Almost 80 people gathered at the fire hall on the evening of Feb 28, 2017, for a review of the information resources available to those living in or owning property in or near the 100-year floodplain (pretty much everyone in the Borough) and an opportunity to get a close look at some of the detailed analytical maps created for the Flood Impact Task Force by Bucknell summer intern working with GIS (Geographic Information Systems).

The presentation offered is available for download in the Flood Impact Task Force section of the Gallery on this website.  The resources and links referred to in the presentation are also linked on that same page.

The primary message of the evening was summarized in handouts that were available to attendees, the content of which is reproduced below:

 

FLOOD IMPACT TASK FORCE -- FLOODPLAIN INFORMATION SESSION

 

Who should have flood insurance?  EVERYONE!  Have you contacted your insurer lately?

 

Please take this opportunity to find your property on the large format maps and consider the following:

• If it is deep in the floodplain, review the structural elevation presentation (available on the LNC website in the FITF section of the Gallery).
• If it is on the outer edge of the floodplain, consider other mitigation options like elevation, basement filling and/or elevating utilities.

 

Do you have a Certificate of Elevation?

• If you have a Certificate of Elevation, could share it with the Borough? It is helpful in both long term planning and emergency management during a flood.  We would accept a hard copy or could also scan your document at the Borough Office.
• If you don’t have a Certificate of Elevation, please consider getting one done. Typical pricing in the Borough:  ~$350 to $500.  Several can be done on a block at once for a discount.  A Certificate of Elevation does not guarantee you will save money on your policy, but it will give you more options.  If the results are not favorable, you can retain your current coverage.

 

Do you think you might be eligible for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA)?

• If you are in the potential LOMA zone, understand that the LOMA application would require an additional fee to the surveyor to complete. If you get the CoE and the LOMA application done at the same time, the LOMA would be a ~$150 add.  If you already have a CoE and need to now apply for a LOMA, you will have to have some additional surveying done, so the stand-alone LOMA would cost around $350.  If you get a CoE and then do some site work to ensure you are eligible for a LOMA, you would then have to pay for the redone CoE plus LOMA ($500 to $650).  The added expense makes financial sense because it would mean avoiding more extreme insurance premium increases in the future.
• If you are able to get a LOMA, you should still maintain flood insurance coverage. Just remember that if you are mapped out of the floodplain, your rates will be quite reasonable.

 

To get a Certificate of Elevation completed, contact a Surveyor in the area.  Check the phone book.  Here are six service providers (the LNC does not endorse or guarantee any of these entities, but provides their contact information as a public service):

 

Coukart & Associates
CoukartAssociates.com
500 Vine Street
New Berlin, PA  17855
570-966-2860

 

Herbert, Roland, & Grubic
HRG-inc.com
776 Bull Run Crossing, Suite 200
Lewisburg, PA 17837
570.524.6744

 

Larson Design Group
LarsonDesignGroup.com
1780 Route 522
Selinsgrove, PA 17870
570-374-5700

 

Light-Heigel & Associates
Light-Heigel.com
142 Main Street
Montandon, PA  17850
570-524-7742

 

Meck-Tech
Meck-Tech.com
25 Old School Road
Selinsgrove, PA. 17870
(570)884-3333

 

Mid-Penn Engineering
Mid-PennEngineering.com
2049 West Market Street
Lewisburg, PA  17837
570-524-2214

 

To follow up about your site in more detail, please feel free to make an appointment to visit the LNC (2^nd Floor, Borough Building, 55 S 5^th St).  The office does not have regular hours, but call 570-523-0114 or email elmstreet@dejazzd.com to set up a convenient time.