Valley Streamers pack Village Hall for FEMA meeting

More than 200 Valley Stream residents packed the courtroom at Village Hall on Tuesday night, demanding answers from FEMA about the new flood maps.

Many of the residents have been hit with flood insurance bills of $1,400 or more after their homes were put into the new high-risk flood zone last year. Hempstead Town Councilman James Darcy arranged the meeting with FEMA officials after receiving numerous complaints at his office about the flood map changes.

Representing FEMA were Paul Weberg, Richard Einhorn, Mat Mampara and Sarah Ice. Following a short presentation about the flood map changes, they opened the floor up to questions. More than 20 people took their turn at the microphone.

One of the biggest complaints of homeowners at the Aug. 31 meeting was that the new maps simply are wrong. "We don't have a coastal flooding problem here," said Gibson resident Alan Schaecter.

Carol Crupi, who has been organizing Gibson residents against the flood map changes, noted that there are some communities in the United States that have proved FEMA's maps wrong. FEMA officials did not dispute this. "So why do you stand by them?" she questioned. "Why do you not do the job right get the people that don't belong in the flood zone out of it?"

Matt Mampara, a contractor with Dewberry — which did the flood plain mapping — said historical data was used to validate results of the elevation study, which was used to determine if home were in or out of the flood zone.

However, several residents argued that historical data proves the opposite. "Valley Stream doesn't flood," said Angelo Capone of Gibson. "It's pretty simple."

Weberg announced about halfway into the meeting that Sen. Chuck Schumer, who was represented that night by Gerry Petrella, would be contacting FEMA's director and requesting a new study of elevations in Valley Stream. This study, Weberg announced, would be done on land instead of by air.

More than 200 residents also weren't able to attend the meeting once the courtroom was at capacity. Darcy said he is arranging for FEMA officials to return, most likely the first week of October, and is hoping to secure a bigger location.

Read more in next week's Herald.