Christie To Make Announcement On Flood Map Regulations

Gov. Chris Christie will make what some believe is a "major announcement" on hurricane flood map regulations Thursday.

Christie will appear at 3 p.m. at the Seaside Heights Fire Department at the Main Fire Bay at 116 Sherman Avenue in Seaside Heights.

Christie chose a town that has seen the worst of the wind and flooding damage as a result of the October superstorm.

But the new flooding map designs have become the biggest source of contention for long-term homeowners who are fearing that they'll either have to put their houses on stilts, or move out entirely.

For instance, the Point Pleasant Boro mayor, council and Sandy-flooded residents are objecting to sections of a FEMA advisory map that puts them in a "V Zone" that calls for more  stringent building requirements and higher flood insurance rates.

Mayor William Schroeder and council members recently told a room of about 100 people, most of whom have homes flooded by Sandy, that they are fighting the designation of sections of Bay Head Shores, which is on Barnegat Bay, and a few other sections of town as being in the "V Zone."

Residents who spoke had concerns about the zone designations, building requirements, a possible faulty pipe exacerbating flooding on Northstream Parkway (which flooded badly during Sandy) and other related matters.

The Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps were in the process of being drafted long before Sandy ever struck the Jersey Shore, but were recently made public.

According to the website of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),the "V zone" is among the "Special Flood Hazard Areas."