Brick Council To Search For FEMA Map Appeal Firm

The Brick Township council voted unanimously late Tuesday night to authorize township professionals to draw up a bid specification that will allow for the early appeal of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood maps.

The request for qualifications, or RFQ, will a hydrology study and wave action modeling that will be used to oppose FEMA's advisory base flood elevation maps, which have placed thousands of Brick Township residents into flood zones, and 4,000 in 'V,' or velocity, zones.

With the de-subsidization of federal flood insurance passed last year by Congress, residents in flood zones whose houses are not raised could pay as much as $30,000 a year for flood insurance, which is required by mortgage companies. Those in 'V' zones are further required to install piling foundations rather than simply raising their homes on blocks.

The purpose of an early appeal will be to convince FEMA that its mapping at the advisory level were wrong.

"We know for a fact that they did not include certain wave action models in their study," said Business Administrator Scott Pezarras, who said most in government are expecting the maps to change once they are revised this summer.

But word from U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez has been that FEMA will accept early, unofficial appeals of the maps before the comment period that will begin after the next round of maps are issued, likely this July or August.

Pezarras said the specifications for the study will be drawn up using multiple parties from the township engineering pool, then the RFQ will be public released for bidding.

"They'll specifically say what their qualifications are, how quickly they can do the project, and the amount they can charge, with a cap on it," he said of companies that will respond to the RFQ. "Obviously, if they say it's going to take two years, that doesn't help us."

Brick is one of the few communites – however, not the first – to consider hiring a consulting firm to oppose FEMA's maps.

In February, Ocean City's council with Atkins North America, Inc. to work on its maps. The city considered five proposals for a contract that extends from that time until the end of summer, when the preliminary version of the maps are due.

Councilman John Ducey said, in the case the township hires a consultant, the work will be useful both prior to the formal appeal period as well as during it.

Pezarras said even the specification itself will be useful.

"When we get to the formal appeal process, FEMA's data becomes available, and hopefully we can have that same firm review the material," he said.

The resolution to seek qualifications for bidders received unanimous council support, though most said they wished it was not necessary.

"I'm going to support this, but I'll tell you, what a waste of time and money," said Councilman Domenick Brando. "You'd think a light would go on in the head of someone at FEMA with all of these towns opposing these maps."

Some residents were more skeptical.

"FEMA is going to do what FEMA is going to do," said Nan Coll.

When the council receives bids for the project, it can choose to accept or reject them. If a bid is accepted, the process can then move forward.