The Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen voted to allow coastal engineering firm Applied Technology and Management (ATM) to proceed with the initial phase of challenging FEMA’s preliminary floodplain designations for Harbor Island.
Since the maps were released showing illogically high-risk flood zones for much of Harbor Island, the board has been carefully and thoroughly exploring the possibility of an appeal.
In October, coastal research specialist Spencer Rogers presented the board with an explanation of the new flood zone designations. Then, in December, the aldermen met with representatives from the state floodplain mapping program to gain a further understanding of the models and variables used to create the designations and therefore determine possible methods for appealing them.
Thursday, Jan. 8 the board met with representatives from coastal engineering firm ATM to hear the firm’s plan for a Phase 1 review, during which the firm would identify any areas of FEMA’s study that could be tested and challenged to affect the designation for Harbor Island. The first phase would cost $24,700 from the town’s reserve fund.
Senior coastal engineer Fran Way said the firm would determine the accuracy of FEMA’s LIDAR elevation data by comparing the points to elevation certificates on file and then re-run FEMA’s Wave Height Analysis for Flood Insurance Studies (WHAFIS) model. Way said WHAFIS was a decent, if not perfect model.
“It’s like a car from the 1980’s,” he said. “They’ve just been upgrading parts of it but it’s still a car from the 1980’s, so it’s got some bugs, some weird things about it.”
To predict wave action, FEMA runs its WHAFIS model on a strip of land, or transect, it feels is representative of the area. But Way pointed out the WHAFIS model is very sensitive to topography so ATM could try running the model 50 feet to the north or south to affect the designations.
Town manager Tim Owens said the only area re-examined would be Harbor Island, so designations for the rest of the town would not be affected. Furthermore, if at any point ATM’s findings began to indicate the town wouldn’t win an appeal, the process could be halted.
“From what we heard today, I don’t see how we can not do it,” alderman Hank Miller said.
Following Phase 1, ATM will provide findings and recommendation to the town as to whether to proceed with Phase 2, a final analysis and appeal submittal.
Unfortunately, the article doesn’t mention that there are other options other than FEMA-based flood insurance. Though most insurance companies offer “flood” insurance, it’s often branded under their own logos, but it’s really just a national flood program with the standard bureaucracy in place.
Another option is a Lloyd’s of London flood insurance policy that is sometimes much more affordable than the national programs and will often include coverage for more than just the home/building. It includes contents as well as other expenses in case of a claim.
Yes, it’s a little self-serving as we do offer not just “branded” flood insurance, but the Lloyd’s products as well. If you need more info, contact me at 1-800-747-5311 or visit our website: http://www.NoBSfloodInsurance.com
Orlando Frasca
President of Rogers Insurance Services
#OrlandoFrasca #FloodInsurance