Gordon residents learn about floodplain map additions

Apr. 7—GORDON — About 20 people attended a presentation on an updated floodplain map for the borough that adds their properties.

The borough council held the presentation, also covering the need to obtain flood insurance, Monday night in the community hall in the municipal building after moving from the council meeting room because of turnout and the need to social distance.

Council President Todd Houser used a PowerPoint slideshow to explain the adjustments to the floodplain ordinance and map that will go into effect May 18. The Federal Emergency Management Agency made the changes.

Houser said anyone who wants to know if a property is in the new floodplain could speak with him.

"What I am going to do at this meeting is go over some of the basics of what it exactly means and how the change came about," he said.

Jason Quick, the borough's former floodplain administrator, former operations manager and former councilman, who was involved in many initial discussions on changes, also attended.

The borough updated its ordinances to meet the minimum criteria for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, according to the presentation. The borough council, floodplain administrator and other local officials otherwise had no input on the maps and the decisions made by FEMA.

"The map shows whose houses are in the flood zone and also those who are removed from the flood zone," Houser said. "I am only listing the changes because those are the people who are being impacted the most. I wish that I had better maps that I could show people to zoom in a little closer, but I don't have a crystal clear recommendation from FEMA or Schuylkill County on who is in or out of the flood zone."

Quick said it has been about 30 years since the floodplain maps have been updated by FEMA. Houser said the homes in the flood-hazard area that have a federally backed mortgage must buy flood insurance.

"That's between you and your lender," Houser said. "I think that the mortgage companies are going to make that determination. But if you have a mortgage, and that includes home equity loans, you must have flood insurance. Most mortgage companies only require the amount left on your mortgage to be covered. You will need to contact your mortgage and insurance companies for specifics."

Houser is familiar with the matter since he lives in a flood zone and reduces his flood insurance coverage as his mortgage balance lessens.

Development is also affected because FEMA's guidelines must be followed.

"If you want to do anything like roof repairs, windows, siding, whatever, you can still do it, but you will need to have a flood permit," he said. "The permit will come from us, so you don't have to contact FEMA for it. It's all done through the borough."

He said the borough is not trying to make such upgrades prohibitive, but "we want to keep our properties up to date."

Houser cautioned those building a new house in the flood zone to have engineering studies done.

He said insurance for newly mapped homes is offered at a discounted price but must be bought within 12 months of the map changes.

Any disagreements with the map can be appealed using a "letter of map amendment" that will require an elevation certificate at a cost of $400 to $800.

According to the FEMA website, "If you are a homeowner and believe your property is not located in the designated 100-year floodplain, also known as a 1-percent-annual-chance floodplain or Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), as shown on the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for your community and you would like FEMA to make an official determination regarding the location of your property relative to the SFHA, you may request a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or a Letter of Map Revision."

To see a detailed flood map, go to www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html. At the map of the United States, in the lefthand corner, enter "Gordon, PA" in the box. Homes that have any part of their home inside the map marked as yellow are now considered in the "Special Flood Hazard Area." Homes that were in the SFHA and are now fully in the purple area have been removed from the flood zone. Homes still in existing flood zones (not marked) have no changes.

Contact the writer: jusalis@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023

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