1. March 25, 2017 – Sea Isle City April 1, 2017 – Ocean City
Winter Storm “Jonas” Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Avalon, Ocean City, Sea Isle City and Stone Harbor
March 25, 2017 – Sea Isle City
April 1, 2017 – Ocean City

2. Today's Agenda
Nor’Easter Jonas Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Overview
Private Property Owner Mitigation Funding Opportunities
HMGP Application for Interested Property Owners
Property Owner Requirements and Expectations
Schedule

3. Mitigation Grant Funding 101
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Programs
Two nationally-competitive programs annually funded by Congress
Pre-Disaster Mitigation – Funds all hazards (e.g. earthquake, wildfire, drought)
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) – Limited to flood, and focused on addressing NFIP Repetitive Loss and Severe Repetitive Loss properties. FMA was the grant program organized in the County in 2016.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program – Disaster-Driven
~15% of Federal “cost” for disaster in a declared State goes into this mitigation fund
State has greater latitude in establishing funding priorities
Severe Winter Storm “Jonas” is being funded under HMGP
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) – Disaster Response
Funding available through Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to address “unmet needs”...thus not available to secondary homes.
This was the funding source for the RREM program, managed through NJ DOS and NJDEP

4. Winter Storm Jonas HMGP Overview
The State has set the following spending priorities for Jonas HMGP:
Only NFIP Community Rating System (CRS) Class 5 (or greater) communities may submit an application
The goal of the program is to elevate structures (residential) that are in the NFIP Special Flood Hazard Area.
~$1,000,000 “ear-marked” for each of the eligible communities
Ocean City is coordinating this effort on behalf of all four eligible CMC communities
Application due to NJOEM May 17, less than two months

5. Jonas HMGP – Main Project Elements
Municipal outreach to prospective property owners
Informative meetings for interested property owners
Collection of required property owner data (April 10, 2017)
Development of an interested property owner database (immediate and long-term aims)
Development of a Jonas HMGP grant application intended to:
Satisfy current funding priorities
Can be effectively developed in the limited time available
Continuation of near-term and long-term approaches to leverage available Federal and State programs and funding to support private property mitigation

6. Property Prioritization for Application
Primary requirements for consideration:
Within the NFIP SFHA (assumed everyone in CMC)
Current first floor elevation below the regulatory Base Flood Elevation (BFE)
All required, signed documentation received by April 10, 2017
Other Prioritization Criteria (not identified in priority order):
“Substantially Damaged” – will require formal declaration from the community
NFIP Repetitive Loss (RL) or Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Properties
Greatest elevation below regulatory BFE
Total documented historic flood losses
Project cost supports an application where formal Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) is satisfied using “Pre-Determined Benefits”

7. Pre-Determined Benefits a.k.a. “No-BCA” Thresholds
Set in a 2013 FEMA Guidance Memorandum for elevations (total project cost) at $175,000.
This translates to about $160,000 for an elevation from the property owner perspective.
We anticipate this HMGP application will be comprised of a group of properties that meet the Pre-Determined Benefits threshold as an aggregate.

8. The Hard Facts
This is a reimbursement program, thus property owners will be responsible for covering costs and then applying for reimbursement once the project is completed. Fortunately - The County is currently working with several local lending institutions that may be able to provide “bridge loans” for mitigation projects.
Only costs incurred after formal notice to proceed are reimbursable.
All property owners will be responsible for the 25% “local share” of their mitigation project.
Properties mitigated using Federal mitigation grant funding are required to maintain NFIP flood insurance on the property in perpetuity. This flood insurance requirement becomes part of the property deed.

9. Property Owner Requirements - Needed Information and Documents
Notice of Voluntary Interest (NOVI)* – without this we will not accept any other information for your property
Affidavit (notary required)*
FEMA Model Acknowledgement of Conditions (notary required)*
FEMA Declaration and Release Form*
Four pictures of property (taken from each side)
Elevation Cost Estimate from a NJ-Licensed Elevation Contractor
Proof of NFIP Insurance (as available)
NFIP Elevation Certificate (as available)
Other flood benefit data (e.g. prior mitigation, ICC)
* All property owners on deed must sign!!!

10. Property Owner Requirements - Needed Information and Documents
We will maintain an property owner information tracker on the “Jonas HMGP Website” page of:
To maintain your privacy, your property shall be
identified by a “Secret Identity” of your choice.
Please provide a “Secret Identity” - on your NOVI or –
otherwise.
There is NOTHING on the website that requires you to
use a Username/Password.

11. Property Owner Notice of Voluntary Interest (NOVI)
List all Property Owners on Deed !

12. Property Owner Notice of Voluntary Interest (NOVI)
All Property Owners on Deed must
Sign !!!

13. Elevation – How High Must I Go?
New Jersey requires, at a minimum, that structures be elevated to the current regulatory NFIP Base Flood Elevation (BFE) plus one foot (BFE+1’). However, NFIP mapping in the region is currently in an active update process after Sandy, and Preliminary FIRM maps (Revised 1/30/2015) are available and should be used as the “Best Available Data”. The following are the State and Local elevation requirements:
Avalon: BFE+3’
Ocean City: BFE+2’
Sea Isle City: Using the  zone determination of the 1983 FIRM Map:
A-Zone: 11’ NAVD 88 to top of block for all A Zone structures
V-Zone: 14’ NAVD 88 to the lowest horizontal member
Stone Harbor: BFE+2’
Preliminary FIRM Maps are available at:
Your municipal building – Building Department
Elevation – How High Can I Go?
Local zoning requirements apply. Typical elevation concerns with respect to local zoning involve setbacks (for modifications required for access – stairs, ramps) and total building heights. You will need to work with your local communities to understand zoning restrictions that may apply to your situation, and consider any variances that may be needed as available.

14. Elevation – How High Should I Go?
The cost of additional elevation above the required minimum is incremental, but it can provide substantial long-term savings. A FEMA mitigation grant will only cover to the local regulatory level (BFE+1 or +2), but the property owner can pay the additional costs.

15. Elevation – What Goes into an Elevation?
Removing existing decks, porches, walkways, steps, and stair cases
Removing pavers and other hardscape and storing them carefully for later reuse
Temporarily removing any landscaping
Engineering, architectural drawings, soil samples, and site surveys
Foundational work – either concrete foundations, pilings, or helical piles
Shutting off your utilities, including sending official shutoff request to your municipality
Disconnecting utilities – electricity, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, ventilation
Lifting or Raising the House
Building a new foundation
Constructing a new lower level
Installing hurricane straps and bracing where necessary
Painting, siding, and coating
Re-installing or rebuilding decks, porches, and stairs
Re-installing landscaping and hardscape
Re-connecting all utilities and raising your HVAC equipment off the ground

16. Working with Elevation Contractors
Interested property owners are encouraged at this time to get an elevation estimate from a New Jersey licensed home elevation contractor
Licensed home elevation specialists and professionals can be found by visiting the State of New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs website at
Download Hiring a Home Elevation Contractor  from the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs
Further information may be found at:

17. Schedule Homeowner Workshops (2) – March 25 and April 1, 2017
Data Collection – March-April 2016
Property Owner Document Deadline – May 10, 2017
Grant Application Development – April 1 – May 15, 2017
Grant Application Due to NJOEM –May 17, 2017
State Grant Submission Deadline (to FEMA) – TBD
FEMA Notice of Award - TBD
Project Implementation - TBD

18. Resources www.capemaycountyhmp.com www.region2coastal.com
We have added a “2017 Jonas Grant Program” page to the Cape May HMP Update project website at:
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) Mapper and a wealth of relevant information:
Information on Elevations and Contractors (private site):
Your municipality is one of your best resources...they are critical in the mitigation process, so work with them from the start.
Jonathan Raser, CFM
(973)