FEMA implements flood zoning changes for West Side homes
Date: 12/5/2012
By Carley Dangona
carley@thereminder.comWEST SPRINGFIELD — Mayor Gregory Neffinger will conduct a meeting for residents at the Town Hall on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m., regarding the expanded designations of 100-year flood zones and the possible requirement to purchase flood insurance.
On that day, members of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance to citizens regarding the flood zoning changes that go into effect July 16, 2013.
The mayor stated that some homeowners might be required to purchase flood insurance if their parcel has been incorporated into a flood zone. The goal of session is to help residents determine if the zoning of their home has changed and to discuss the requirements of living within a flood zone.
Conservation Officer and Assistant Planner Mark Noonan cited Ely Avenue, Belmont Avenue and Gooseberry Road as the streets with the most dramatic changes in mapping.
He also listeded the Union Street underpass, Hayes Avenue, Bacon Street and the Gate 9 area of the Eastern States Exposition fair grounds, as areas of newly designated or enlarged 100-year flood zones.
"A 100-year flood zone is defined as having a 1 percent change of having a flood event within a 100-year period," Noonan explained. "It is important to note that flooding could occur multiple times within that duration."
Paul Zielinski, principal agent for Horace Mann Insurance in West Springfield, commented on flood insurance. "Homeowners policies specifically exclude flood insurance. Those required to obtain flood coverage would have to purchase an additional policy. If the mortgage isn't from a federally-backed bank, they don't have to get flood insurance that is otherwise required."
He added, "A flood is defined as when two or more acres that are normally dry flood out, or if two adjacent properties flood out."
Zielinski further clarified that the two properties did not have to be under the same ownership. He gave the example of a homeowner's and a neighbor's properties as an acceptable combination to satisfy the definition.
Zielinski warned that if a basement becomes flooded, only items such as the furnace and other equipment necessary to run the house would be covered. Personal effects stored in the area would be excluded for replacement.
"The coverage rate depends on the building size and the contents within it [separate policies]. Generally, flood policies are paid in full for an entire year," Zielinski stated. "Most people in this area do qualify for premium rates, which range from $154 to $405 per year."
He commented, "Residents really should try to be grandfathered in. If they purchase a flood insurance policy now, they can maintain coverage at a lower rate once the new flood zones go into effect."
One of the main questions Noonan has for FEMA is why the designations changed. "These areas were originally proposed as flood plains, but then the area was shrunk, and now it's being expanded again," Noonan said. He added that he is interested to see the research that supports the changes.
On its website, FEMA addresses the mapping changes. "Flood risk can, and does, change over time. Flood risks change for many reasons: new development, changes in levee classification, and environmental changes, to name a few. As a result FEMA is updating flood hazard maps across the country."
Noonan stated, "There is an appeal option, which is limited to the town as a whole and not to individual property owners, where scientifically proven reasons must be presented [to FEMA] as to why an area should not be considered part of the flood zone."
At this time, the town is looking into the changes and will consider an appeal if it deems necessary.
For more information about the upcoming changes, visit
www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program/information-homeowners-renters. To learn more about flood insurance requirements and options, go to
www.floodsmart.gov.
