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Michigan Legislation RE: FEMA HR 62


A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to abolish the National Flood Insurance Program

Last Action: Referred to Committee on Insurance on April  26, 2011
Hearings June 9, 2011

To see the full text.  http://www.mygov365.com/legislation/view/id/4db7c0fd49e51bfd4bf00300/tab/versions/


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Revised Flood Plan for Lenawee County
Adrian Daily Telegraph - May 4, 2011

A controversial expansion of flood plain maps is moving ahead in Lenawee County and is expected to require many property owners to begin buying flood insurance.

A revised flood plain map for the county is expected from the federal government in two to three months, Lenawee County Drain Commissioner Stephen May reported Monday to the county commission’s physical resources committee. The map is to add 12 of the county’s 22 townships to communities with flood plains and add 116 miles of flood plains along streams and major drains, May said.

There will be a 90-day appeal process for local governments or individual property owners to appeal after the map is issued, May said. It will take effect six months after the appeal period.

Townships, villages and cities affected by the map changes will have to decide whether to adopt the map, he said, in order to become eligible for the National Flood Insurance Program.

Failing to adopt the new maps could also leave a community ineligible for federal aid in the aftermath of any type of weather disaster, not just floods, said May.

“They don’t have to join, but there could be some real serious problems for the property owners if they do not,” he said.

Township and village officials need to understand the risks of not participating even if they disagree with what the federal government is doing, said committee chairman Ralph Tillotson, R-Adrian Twp. There will be property owners who need access to the federal insurance program, he said.

Cletus Smith, R-Madison Twp., said property owners also risk losing federal disaster aid.

“If we have a flood and they haven’t gotten on board, there would be no FEMA money available,” Smith said.

“Each board, each municipality, will have to make that decision,” May said. A decision to not participate would mean property owners in the township or village would be denied federal insurance and federal aid in case of a natural disaster.

“If I had to stand or sit before my constituents and explain that, I don’t think it would be a very comfortable position to be in,” May said.

May said he has been told the cost to insure most homes through the National Flood Insurance Program will be $500 to $800 per year. If a township or village does not adopt the new map, he said, property owners could be required by mortgage holders to buy insurance in the private market and pay several times the cost of the federal insurance.

Townships with areas being added to flood maps are Blissfield, Cambridge, Clinton, Franklin, Hudson, Madison, Ogden, Raisin, Riga, Rome, Tecumseh and Woodstock as well as the village of Cement City.

Areas being added to the flood plain map are along some reaches of the River Raisin, the South Branch of the River Raisin, Wolf Creek, Evans Creek, Goose Creek, Riga Drain, Floodwood Creek, Savage Drain, Garrison Drain, Big Ravine Ditch and the Eddy Extension, according to FEMA.

The map will also include some property around Loch Erin, Dewey Lake, Stony Lake, Wamplers Lake, South Lake, Pickerel Lake, Osprey Lake and South Pond, all in Cambridge, Woodstock and Franklin townships, and Lake Arrowhead in Raisin Township.

                                                                                                                                

From Ray T Kuzminski

 

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Monroe Evening News, Monroe Michigan

The complete article appeared in the Monroe Evening News recently January 18, 2011.  Hopefully the public pressure will take hold and more public officials will begin to question the accuracy of the map.

“The City of Monroe has received a boost from three members of Congress in its effort to delay implementation of new Flood Insurance Rate Maps.U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Carl Levin, D-Mich., and U.S. Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Dearborn, all signed the letter backing Monroe Mayor Robert E. Clark’s request for more time to determine the accuracy of new 100-year floodplain maps for Monroe County.”

David McKay

 

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Fema Flood Pain Mapping for Lake Columbia became effective May 3, 2010.

Those who want to challenge the floodplain map for their individual property will need to submit a Letter of Map Amendment or LOMA to FEMA. The completion of a LOMA requires a licensed surveyor.

(see a list of surveyors below)

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For more information on filing a LOMA

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/fmc_loma.shtm 


Select MT_EZ form

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IS YOUR PROPERTY OR HOUSE TOUCHED BY THE FLOODPLAIN?

The Jackson County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) section of the Equalization Department provides the ability to look at your property and clearly see where the floodplain map reaches in relation to your property and house.

Follow these steps to view your property:
  A. Go to  www.co.Jackson.mi.us/CountyGIS/index.htm
  B Click County GIS
  C. Click "I Accept" (this brings up a map of Jackson County)
  D. Click on Columbia Township block on the map. This will zoom in on the Township. Continue clicking on the map in the area between Cement City and Brooklyn until Lake Columbia becomes visible. Then keep clicking on the map in the area where your property is or wherever you want to check out.
  E. Once you have clearly identified your property, click on the "Layer" rectangle at the upper left portion of the options box that runs across the top of the screen. This brings up another options box at the upper right part of the screen.
  F. Click on 2010 Flood Plain, then click on both VIS and ACT, then click on Update. This will overlay the floodplain onto the map.
  G. Next, check Aerial Imagery, check VIS Orthophoto 2007 and then click on update. This will overlay an aerial view and you can see your house in relation to the floodplain. Don't worry if the property boundary lines are not placed accurately. They are not accurate, but the Aerial Imagery accurately places your property/house in the proper relationship to the floodplain.

NOTE: There are already some examples of areas that where the flood plain information is not accurate.

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WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS IF YOUR HOUSE OR PROPERTY IS IN THE FLOODPLAIN?

Only those in the floodplain and with federally regulated loans would be required to buy flood insurance. One thing to keep in mind, this is also an issue for anyone who ever plans on selling their home. A prospective purchaser will want to know if they will be required to purchase flood insurance. Even if the sale is for cash, the floodplain status must be disclosed to the buyer. A purchaser of a buildable vacant lot will need proof showing where a house can be built that is one foot above the floodplain. Waiting to file a LOMA until later could cost more if we were to get a group rate now. I could also delay the transaction 6-8 weeks until the LOMA is processed.

A mortgaged house in the flood plain can expect to be contacted by their lender about the requirement  to purchase flood insurance. If a member believes the floodplain is not accurate, the member should file a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). Form MT-EZ has to be completed by a licensed surveyor. The surveyor will need information like: a drawing of the property, plat map, deed, sewer plans, and mortgage report. The cost will be around $600 and it will take 4-6 weeks to get a response from FEMA. If FEMA agrees that the house is not in the floodplain, the member may take the LOMA to the lender to have the flood insurance requirement removed (the lender may at its discretion ignore the LOMA and still require flood insurance). If the lender agrees, the LOMA may also be presented to the insurance company to get a possible refund of all the premiums paid.

Depending on how many are interested, it may also be possible to get bids from survey companies on submitting LOMAs for all the members who sign up. If there are enough, it may be possible to get the cost reduced.

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Surveyors

The following survey firms are experienced in completing LOMAs (there are likely other qualified surveyors, but these ae the only companies who have made known there services to the Township). Note Neighborlink has no connection and no experience with any of these surveyors. This is not an endorsement of any of these firms. If you have an surveyor you have had a positive experience with for your flood plain survey and you want to add them to the list please contact Neighborlink.
 
Fleis & Vanderbrink, Engineering Inc.
Max George, Sueveyor Group Manager
821 East Kalamazoo Street, Suite E, Lansing MI 48912
517-485-0555, fax 517-485-0558
http://www.fveng.com/location_lansing.php
email: mgeorge@fveng.com
 
Ripstra & Scheppelman, Inc.
Al Scheppelman, P.C.
2535 Spring Arbor Road, Jackson, MI 49203
517-789-9898, fax 517-789-6065
http://www.ripstra-scheppelman.com
email: alan@ripstra-scheppelman.com
 
Alpine land Surveying, Inc.
Karol Grove, Flood Zone Specialist
4237 Curtis Road, Highland, MI 4837
877-863-3069 (toll free), 248-807-1456 (cell)
http://www.FloodZoneSpecialists.us

email:   AlpineSurv@aol.com


David P. Smith & Associates, Inc.
8615 Richardson Road #100, Commerce Twp., MI 48390-1325
248- 363155
email: AASURVEYOR@aol.com

 

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SPILLWAY CAPACITY AND AFFECT ON FLOODPLAIN DESIGNATION

The height of the spillway where water flows from the lake is 988 feet above sea level. The height of the earthen/rock dam is 996 feet.  Based on an explanation by Donna Cervlli, FEMA Floodplain Engineer for Jackson/Lansing Region, FEMA calculates that in a 100 year flood, the lake water would rise 1.2 feet above the spillway and 372 cubic feet per second (CFS) of water would flow over the spillway. Using 1970 topographical maps, FEMA generated the floodplain map which encircles or touches many lakefront houses. Their calculations are based on 1970 topographical maps and how rain water will flow towards Lake Columbia in the 33 square mile watershed area from Somerset Lake to Lake Columbia.

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LEGISLATION THAT MAY AFFECT REQUIREMENT TO PURCHASE FLOOD INSURANCE

HR5114 has been passed by the House of Representatives and now the Senate needs to work on the bill. To see the bill

http://www.rules.house.gov/SpecialRules_details.aspx?NewsID=4716

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Disclaimer:  Lake Columbia Neighborlink does not guarantee the validity or accuracy of any information published or distributed nor does it imply endorsements of any kind.  

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