By JACQUELINE DURETT
Correspondent
SAYREVILLE — The borough took a step to recognize homeowners who weren’t eligible for a buyout after superstorm Sandy, but are still dealing with problems of their own following the storm.
The Borough Council passed a resolution on June 13 that requests that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) review its policies regarding homes that were constructed to code when built, but now warrant additional flood insurance protection.
The homes in the scope of this resolution were not eligible for a Blue Acres buyout as the homes in the Weber Avenue neighborhood were, since these homes did not meet the same repetitive flooding criteria. As per the resolution, the borough would like FEMA to grandfather in these homes so that the revised flood policies based on redrawn, to-be-released flood maps would not apply to them.
“We’re still remembering those people from Sandy and are working with them,” Councilman Art Rittenhouse, who sponsored the resolution, said during the meeting.
“By not including a grandfathering provision in the National Flood Insurance Laws, these homeowners are either forced to elevate and remodel, or pay increased flood insurance premiums or will lose value in their homes upon resale as their homes will be valued less by potential buyers who will be forced to elevate them,” the resolution reads. “This results in a reality that is unfair given the inability for these homeowners to qualify for programs to assist them in bringing their homes into compliance.”
Resident Ron Rudko, who lives on Eisenhower Drive, a street that runs parallel to Weber but is farther inland, said he appreciates the resolution.
“It’s a home run. It’s a real good push,” he said, adding, however, that he wishes the borough were doing more to help residents like him who are facing substantial increases in their flood insurance premiums.
He said borough officials told him they would appeal the flood designation on the FEMA maps, but added that all he has seen is a report done by borough engineering firm CME that can’t find anything wrong with FEMA’s determination. He said he is disappointed that the borough did not hire a firm that specializes in this work.
According to Rudko, his flood insurance premium is about to go from $405 annually to between $3,000 and $4,000.
“We may lose our house,” he said, adding that he would like to stay, but many of his neighbors are selling their homes because of the situation. “FEMA’s tearing our families apart,” he said.
During Superstorm Sandy, he said, only his crawlspace flooded, but it was the first time in his memory that the water had ever come up to Eisenhower.
“What FEMA is trying to do is take a paint roller and put us all in a flood zone,” he said, explaining that he did not feel his home and the Weber Avenue homes should face similar flooding designations.
Rudko also said that when the Weber Avenue neighborhood residents were filling out their Blue Acres forms to get a buyout, he was asked to fill one out and did. However, he said he was told that his street was not on the radar for a Blue Acres buyout.
As such, he said he does not think it’s right that he is not eligible for a buyout but his home is still being categorized the way the Weber Avenue homes are.
Rudko said that if his home is going to be treated the same as a Weber Avenue home, then, “We need to be compensated just like Weber and McArthur [avenues].”
Rudko said he has done everything he could to garner support at the local and state level for the issue, including meeting with lawmakers. However, he said, while he has found little support, he is optimistic this resolution will help him and his neighbors.
Following the Sayreville council meeting, Rittenhouse said he was familiar with the family’s plight.
“The resolution is just one part of an ongoing process to make sure our residents are heard, and we can make them feel comfortable with the decision that will be reached with the flood maps,” he said.
He said a Rutgers University study currently in progress also should help with flood mitigation once the university releases its recommendations.
The resolution, which was unanimously passed, was slated for delivery to Gov. Chris Christie’s office, as well as that of state, county and legislative district lawmakers.
