Atlantic City Considering Applying for FEMA Funds to Elevate Homes

The City of Atlantic City is in the process of applying for funding through FEMA for various storm mitigation measures, including elevating homes.

According to a press release, homeowners in Atlantic City have until the end of January to provide required information to the City if they would like to be considered for this program. FEMA requires that municipalities apply on behalf of their homeowners for partial funding to raise building elevations. These FEMA applications are competitive, and there is no guarantee that the City will receive funding.

Property owners who wish to be included in the City’s application should write to the City Engineer, William England, at City Hall, 1301 Bacharach Avenue, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 08401.  This is simply a letter of interest and does not obligate the property owner to participate.  The letter of interest must include property address, tax block and lot number;whether the property is covered by FEMA’s Increased Cost of Compliance Coverage;the extent of damage incurred from Superstorm Sandy, if any; a current elevation certificate of the existing structure provided by a New Jersey Licensed Land Surveyor; and the property owners name, address, phone number and email address.

The City is applying for FEMA Mitigation Funds for a variety of projects including raising flood-prone access roads, installing stormwater pumping systems, acquiring emergency generators and building flood gates.  The applications will be reviewed and prioritized by the County, State and FEMA.  Funding may not be available until late 2013 and properties owners will not be able to start their project until funding is awarded.

FEMA has released new advisory base flood elevation maps that require higher elevations and pilings in certain neighborhoods of the City.  These maps and other FEMA information are available at www.region2coastal.com. Any homes that are elevated using FEMA funds must comply with the new maps.