Raising house levels in the Rockaways might protect them from flooding during future storms

Image source: NYDN – Broad Channel Civic Association Leader Dan Mundy indicating the base flood elevation in this neighborhood

The NY Daily News reports on an option some homeowners in the Rockaways area might be worth looking into to protect their homes from the next giant storm – raising their home to the base flood elevation or higher. This could be useful for neighborhoods on the Rockaway peninsula as well as Broad Channel, located to the north in Jamaica Bay. Homeowners can get financial help to make this happen, thanks to a little-known provision in their flood insurance.

Dan Mundy Jr., president of the Broad Channel Civic Association, finds this provision encouraging. He knows lots of folks in Broad Channel who would like to raise their home to protect it, but feel they can’t because it’s too costly. He says that those “who file Increased Cost of Compliance claims through the National Flood Insurance Program can receive up to $30,000 to help raise structures above the flood elevation level.” Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Park) is also keen on the potential help this could be for homeowners.

One of the baseline requirements, though is that the house must have sustained “substantial” damage, which is not a difficult thing to do these days on Broad Channel.

Little-known program can help flood-prone homeowners stave off future damage [NYDN]
Elevating Your House [FEMA]
National Flood Insurance Program [FloodSmart.gov]
UPDATED – Broad Channel also abused by Hurricane Sandy [QNYC]