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Resident tells council FEMA elevation funding was cut, urges advocacy
Summary
A Pompton Lakes resident said the state’s DRM informed him FEMA MAP elevation funding is no longer available because construction costs exceed FEMA allowances; he asked the council to advocate for restoring the program or other options to help homeowners at flood risk.
During public comment, resident Peter Shazat described a recent state letter informing him that the Disaster Recovery & Mitigation office can no longer fund his home elevation under FEMA's MAP program because construction costs exceed current FEMA cost allowances.
Shazat described the personal impact and urged borough officials to use their contacts to press state and federal representatives for program restoration or alternative support. “This is saying that ... DRM is no longer able to fund the elevation of your property under the MAP program due to the construction costs exceeding FEMA cost allowances,” Shazat told the council.
Mayor said he would raise the matter with counterparts and suggested submitting any documentation to the clerk so the mayor could present specifics when contacting state officials. Council members agreed to raise the issue at the flood advisory board and to follow up on buyout vs. elevation program differences.
Why it matters: the resident framed the letter as an example of how shifting federal and state program rules leave homeowners who planned around an award in limbo. He asked the borough to advocate for funding that helps homeowners elevate houses rather than pursue buyouts, which the mayor said would be more harmful to a small borough’s tax base.
Next steps: the mayor asked the commenter to provide his documentation to the clerk so staff and elected officials can pursue follow-up with state and county partners; the council's flood advisory board will also review the matter at its next meeting.
