2X Flood Structures in FEMA Flood Zone

After Hurricane (or rather Tropical Storm) Sandy pummeled New York and New Jersey only a few months ago, the federal flood maps were forced to be redrawn with new rules and regulations made to be put into place.  Areas further inland are now covered as tidal surges have proved to be more ferocious than anyone thought and in New York alone, 35,000 more homes and businesses are now covered in the FEMA zone.

What does this mean?  Well flood insurance, as well as hurricane insurance in many areas, will now not only be mandatory, but rates will be much higher, as people who once were not considered to be in a threatening area, now are.  This not only is a financial burden in the long-run, but also to many storm victims who are still managing to put their homes together, it is a burden in the short-term as well.  This is especially true to those who have not, and will not, receive claim reimbursement from their insurance companies at all.

However, while these maps will not fully go into effect for 2 years, people are advised to prepare immediately.  This can be done by taking badly damaged homes in the new flood zones and rebuilding or repairing them up to the new higher standards.

What exactly do these standards entail?  Well most importantly, it makes homes and business required to be hoisted up on massive posts or stilts, much resembling the houses on the Florida and Louisiana coastline. Who knows, maybe the entire East Coast will one day be alike?