By: Gwen Moran

Flooding risks, as well as the value of your home and your possessions, help determine whether the cost of flood insurance is worth it.  Homeowners may be required to carry flood insurance if their homes are in high-risk areas, called Special Flood Hazard Areas.

Damage caused by driving rain is usually covered under standard homeowners insurance policies. Once the precipitation hits the ground, however, all bets may be off. Homeowners insurance typically excludes damage resulting from “seeping water, snow melt, rising bodies of water like lakes or rivers, and any type of rising ground water,” says DonnaLyn Giegerich Zapcic, an insurance professional in Red Bank, N.J.

Flood insurance can fill that gap in coverage, but before you invest in it, take an hour or two to review your current homeowners’ policy. Based on your home’s flooding risks and the value of your possessions, you might have enough protection already. If not, the cost of flood insurance averages $540 a year.

How to get flood insurance

Getting flood insurance is the easy part. Homeowners can purchase coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program, so long as their communities participate. (Most communities do.) The program, part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will insure homes no matter the risk of flooding, though premiums will vary accordingly.
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Homes located in the highest-risk areas, known as Special Flood Hazard Areas, may even be required by lenders to carry flood insurance, especially when the home is financed with a federally insured mortgage. Homes in Special Flood Hazard Areas have a 26% chance of experiencing flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage.
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Flood policies through this federal program are purchased from traditional insurance companies. Call NFIP at 1-888-379-9531 for a referral. The maximum coverage limit is $250,000 for damage to the building and an additional $100,000 for damage to the contents. The annual premium for a residential policy that covers contents only in a low-risk area can run as little as $39; the cost can approach $6,000 to cover the building and contents of a home in a high-risk coastal area.

Weigh cost of flood insurance vs. benefits

Start by assessing your home’s risk of flooding, says Etti Baranoff, associate professor of risk, insurance, and finance at Virginia Commonwealth University. Has your neighborhood flooded in the past? Homeowners can view FEMA flood maps online.

Once you have a good handle on your risk profile, consider the potential loss you would sustain in case of a flood, says Baranoff. The average flood claim is $33,000, according to NFIP, but even an inch of water can cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to a home and its contents.

Damage done by an inch of floodwater

Source: National Flood Insurance Program

“Look how many people buy the insurance coverage on their cellular phones…when it’s a major catastrophe that can really cost you,” Baranoff says. “If you’re the type of person who buys the cellular phone insurance, you want to be sure you’re acting within your risk tolerance.”
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To get an idea of your liability, take a day to create a home inventory of your possessions, as well as estimate the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home. You might even find that the NFIP policy limits are inadequate. If so, check with your agent about rates for private flood insurance.

Additional flood resources for homeowners

Uncle Sam offers other assistance to homeowners who may become victims of flooding, in addition to flood insurance. Take taxes, for instance. The IRS will give some flood victims extra time to file returns, and it may be possible to take tax deductions for flood losses. Read IRS Publication 547, “Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts.”
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If flooded homes are located in declared federal disaster areas, homeowners may be eligible for low-interest loans through the Small Business Administration. (You don’t need to own a small business to qualify.) It’s possible to get up to $40,000 to replace or repair clothing, furniture, cars, or appliances, and up to $200,000 to repair or replace primary residences to pre-flood condition.
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One quirk to keep in mind when it comes to SBA assistance: In high-risk areas, aid may be contingent upon a homeowner already having flood insurance. Because of this, SBA assistance shouldn’t be construed as a fool-proof safety net.

On the Great Peconic Bay at Cutchogue Harbor rests the quiet hamlet of New Suffolk.  Though the smallest community in Southold Town, the area boasts navigable creeks, deep fish-rich waters, and nearly 350 years of settlement history.  Descendants of one 17th century farming family still work the nearby fields, and the town’s fewer than 400 residents often convene in the summer months for potlucks, yoga, or other recreational activities.  This relaxed atmosphere has made the area a popular destination for weary city-dwellers and a haven for summer residents.

Three decades ago the village witnessed the first of a series of attempts by private developers to commercialize the area.  In each instance New Suffolk’s residents have rallied together to oppose projects that might threaten the community’s rural charm, natural scenery, or historic structures.

After years of weighing in on the potential impact of building projects, several members of the New Suffolk Civic Association decided to take the future of the New Suffolk waterfront into their own hands.  To that end they founded in 2005 the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund (NSWF), a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the town’s precious waterways.  With help from the Peconic Land Trust, the NSWF has worked to raise money for the purchase of the bayside properties.  Upon that success, they intend a laundry list of renovations.  Among these they hope to repair  the town’s storm-damaged docks, many of which were built at the turn of the last century.  Other proposals include the addition of a community amphitheater and a maritime history museum to honor the site’s role as home to the first United States Navy submarine base.

As much as land, water, or wildlife, the NSWF is seeking to preserve an historic identity, one shared by a very small but dedicated community.  New Suffolk is a place where the character of the village speaks for itself.

The Town of Hempstead has taken up action to plant 3 acres of beach grass along the dunes west of Point Lookout this winter.  Beach grass has a deep root system which allows it to reach down to the water table.  It thrives in arid, nutrient poor conditions so it a terrific match for sandy dunes.  The root structure forms a net below the ground while spreading horizontally which helps to stabilize the dunes while the tops of the plants, which can reach up to 3′ tall, assists with dune height by capturing sand blowing in the wind.  The Town’s strategy is an eco-friendly, affordable solution to beach erosion and will help protect the more than 1,000 residences in Point Lookout and Lido Beach.

Black Sea Bass, which can be found in and around Long Island’s waters from May through September, have had NY State impose new fishing regulations.  As proposed, the recreational fishing season will be reduced from 12 months to 2 months, June and September.  These rules have come on the heels of new  NY State license fees for salt water fishing and increased limits on fluke, causing angst among both recreational anglers and charter boat captains.  Is it fair?  Is it necessary to sustain a viable balance in our coastal waters?  What do you think?

The DEC moved last week to include the Great South Bay along with other waterways & inlets around Suffolk County to include them on their “impaired list”.  Inclusion on this list opens the way for Federal monies to help address the recurring blooms of brown tide algae.  Inclusion on the Federal list does not affect recreational boating or public access.  The final proposed list is sent to the EPA for approval  April 1st.  Other waters include were Moriches Bay, Shinnecock Bay & Inlet, and Quantuck Bay.  Hopefully this designation will result in State action to limit nitrogen flowong from septic systems & storm water run off.

New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez today announced $23.8 million in funding from the state Environmental Protection Fund’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program for 90 projects across New York.  These awards cover a variety of planning, design and construction projects that focus on economic, community, environmental and recreational improvements, reinforcing Governor Paterson’s commitment to improving both local economies and the environment.  The following is a list of local projects.  A complete list of the 2009-2010 grant awards may be found on the Department of State’s website at www.dos.state.ny.us.Nassau County

Town of Oyster Bay: Hempstead Harbor to Cold Spring Harbor Blueway Trail
The Town of Oyster Bay, in collaboration with the Friends of the Bay and the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, will complete the planning of a Blueway Trail through Hempstead Harbor, the Long Island Sound and the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor watershed area.  The project will identify trail heads that are best-suited for access, adjacent recreational facilities and other amenities, as well as ecological and cultural resources along the trail.  The project will generate engineering and feasability reports, design options, a final plan and a Blueway Trail Map.
Total Project Cost: $152,500   Amount Awarded: $76,250

Suffolk County

Town of East Hampton: Hard Clam/American Oyster Enhancement/Restoration in Three Mile and Napeague Harbors
The Town of East Hampton will undertake restoration of Hard Clams and American Oysters in the State-designated Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitats of Three Mile Harbor and Napeague Harbor.  The Town’s aquaculture personnel will seed and deploy 1,000,000 oysters and 750,000 clams to each harbor over the course of two years.  Seed plantings are expected to result in increased harvestable product for town residents while adding to dwindling clam and oyster stocks, enhancing reproductive potential and immediately augmenting bio-filtration capacity in these harbors.
Total Project Cost: $265,312   Amount Awarded: $132,656

Town of Huntington: Heron Park Improvements
The Town of Huntington will complete development of Heron Park on Mill Pond at Centerport Harbor.  Grant funding will support site preparation and the installation of retaining walls, fencing, guide rails, decorative lighting, benches, walking paths, plantings and other park amenities.
Total Project Cost: $150,000   Amount Awarded: $75,000

Town of Islip: Sayville and West Sayville Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
The Town of Islip will focus preparation of its Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan on the coastal hamlets of Sayville and West Sayville on the Great South Bay in the South Shore Estuary Reserve.  The plans will focus on community waterfront land use issues, public access to the shore and water quality.
Total Project Cost: $100,000   Amount Awarded: $50,000

Town of Islip: Implementation of the Green’s Creek and Brown’s River Watershed Management Plan
The Town of Islip will implement the Green’s Creek and Brown’s River Watershed Management Plan through capital improvement projects that will collect and filter stormwater runoff at Brook Street in the hamlet of Sayville before it can enter the Great South Bay.  The project will design and install leeching pools along Brook Street and replace asphalt, curbing and landscaping.
Total Project Cost: $200,000   Amount Awarded: $100,000

Village of Northport: Village of Northport Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
The Village of Northport on the Long Island Sound will prepare a draft Local Waterfront Revitalization Program that will address protection and preservation of its harbor waterfront and natural resources, and plan for climate change and sustainable design.
Total Project Cost: $57,000     Amount Awarded: $28,500

Village of Port Jefferson: Village of Port Jefferson Revitalization Plan
The Village of Port Jefferson, in collaboration with the Town of Brookhaven, will prepare a village revitalization plan for the upper business district on Main Street.  Applying Smart Growth principles and economic development strategies, the plan will focus on reclaiming the 2,000 foot south shoreline as a public place, connecting the Village’s lower business district to the harbor through the creation of a Village Square and replacing the Town of Brookhaven parking area with a Harbor Park.  The two municipalities will collaborate on a traffic study and the development of schematic designs that would be functionally and aesthetically appropriate to the area.  Final schematic designs, a feasibility report, analysis of construction requirements and SEQR review will be included.
Total Project Cost: $95,000     Amount Awarded: $47,500

Town of Shelter Island: Town of Shelter Island and Village of Dering Harbor Watershed Management Plan
The Town of Shelter Island, in partnership with the Village of Dering Harbor, will prepare a Watershed Management Plan.  The management plan will generate recommended management actions and strategies to address nonpoint source pollution and improve water quality.
Total Project Cost: $72,975     Amount Awarded: $36,487

Town of Southold: Implementation of the Town of Southold Hamlet Study - Phase II
The Town of Southold will update its Comprehensive Plan by updating underlying data and analysis and integrating long-term planning goals identified in its 2007/2008 Hamlet Revitalization Plan.
Total Project Cost: $137,136   Amount Awarded: $68,568

Town of Southold: Restoration of Goldsmith Inlet
The Town of Southold will assess, mitigate and restore the ecological functions and values of Goldsmith Inlet off the Long Island Sound to address the accretion of sand, loss of use due to degraded water quality, loss of littoral habitat and loss of low and high marsh habitat.  The Town will undertake a pollution source tracking analysis; a flush rate analysis; restoration of the littoral zone; non-native species removal; development of a Storm Water Pollution Plan; design and implementation of storm water volume reduction measures between the Town and the County; and installation of four catch basins as stormwater control retrofits.
Total Project Cost: $222,882   Amount Awarded: $111,441

During the past 10 years regulators have imposed rules that have left as little as 24 fishing days for commercial fishermen who go after haddock, cod, flounder and other ground fish in an effort to limit over-fishing.  At the same time it has become more expensive to for the industry as goverment issued fishing permits, which sold in the 1990’s for a few thousand dollars, can go for upwards of $200,000.  Because of years of regulations and the rising costs of permits fewer and fewer fishermen are becoming boat captains.  Adding the cost of a decent commercial fishing vessel of $400,000 - $500,000 and its no wonder so few can even attempt a venture into this market.  Acoording to a recent article in Newsday “the prospects of a rebuilt fish stocks will be able to generate 3 times the current catch, providing plenty of economic incentive for new fisherman”.  Do the numbers add up or are we destroying a long standing, vital econimic industry with which this country was founded on?  Are the current regulations necessary to preserve the eco-system?

Make friends and influence your property values by creating neighborhood traditions.  The winter holidays provide the perfect excuse to march up to your neighbors’ doors and invite them to a holiday event that brings neighbors together and builds strong community bonds.

Unity builds community

There are smart reasons to start a holiday neighborhood tradition that fosters good relationships with your neighbors. Higher property values, strong schools, and lower crime rates are tangible benefits of neighbors’ connecting with their fellow residents and their neighborhood, according to studies by Dennis Rosenbaum, director of the Center for Research in Law and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

There are also intangible benefits. “People feel better about themselves when their house becomes a home and their street becomes a neighborhood,” says Peggy Allen, author of Block Parties and Poker Nights: Recipes and Ideas for Getting and Staying Connected With Your Neighbors (http://www.amazon.com/Block-Parties-Poker-Nights-Connected/dp/0609807889). “When you have some connection with the people whose yard you share and whose cars get parked next to yours on the street, you know they’re looking out for you.”

Ideas for holiday events

Organizing an event is easier than you think. “The key is to not jam an agenda down people’s throats,” says Allen. “Float your idea, make it as flexible as possible, and don’t be the only one who wants to do it.” Here are seven event ideas from your neighbors across the country:

1. Sing songs. “We’ve been caroling every year since 1967, and we missed only one winter because it was below freezing,” says Marge Othrow of the Clinton Hill neighborhood in Brooklyn, N.Y.

A few residents scout the route by identifying streets heavy with holiday decorations under the theory that those residents will be receptive to carolers. A community group donates the money to print flyers, and volunteers post the flyers and provide refreshments. “A lot of residents are expecting us,” says Othrow. “Sometimes we’re invited in, and some people even plan their parties so we’re the entertainment.”

2. Party with a purpose. New Orleans’ historic Strachan House is the site of the Coliseum Square Association’s annual Christmas party, where the highlight is an award ceremony honoring first emergency responders who’ve made a difference in the city’s Lower Garden District neighborhood.

“We want to thank our first responders,” says Matt Ryan, CSA president, “but the end result is that we’re building our community.” The CSA spends about $1,000 for the food and the several-hundred-dollar cash awards for the first responders.

3. Swap food. With a cookie or dessert exchange, no single neighbor bears the burden of providing food for the entire neighborhood. “We have an open house,” says Audra Krell of Scottsdale, Ariz., “and people bring one tray of any kind of dessert.” Krell relies on Evites and Facebook to spread the word, so her overall time managing the event is under 10 hours.

4. Organize a search party. Families compete in a neighborhood-wide scavenger hunt in Maineville, Ohio. “I come up with a list of holiday items, like tinsel and candy canes, and give everybody a half hour to collect them,” says Tracie Watkins. “The family that comes back first or has found the most items in that time gets a $50 gift card. Last year we had 15 to 20 families.”

5. Pay it forward. The holidays are a great time to tap into feelings of goodwill toward others. Krell pairs her dessert exchange with a request for partygoers to bring toys to donate to needy children through Childhelp USA (http://www.childhelp.org/).

In Logan, Utah, Jenny Johnson and 50-60 of her neighbors forego giving gifts and goodies to each other, instead purchasing Christmas gifts, food, and personal hygiene items for three to four needy families through the Sub for Santa (http://www.unitedwayuc.org/subforsanta/) program.

The average family’s financial contribution runs about $30, and the families get together at a neighborhood party to wrap the gifts they’ve purchased.

6. Feed your friendly neighbors. “We have a progressive holiday party at three houses on the Sunday before Christmas,” says Margee Herring of Wilmington, N.C. Each homeowner foots the food bill for about 100 guests, but you can share the cost by asking neighbors to sign up for a potluck dish. To create a twist, announce a different theme each year or ask homeowners to host the cuisine of a different country.

7. Light it up. Many neighborhoods come together to line their streets with candles on Christmas Eve. “We use plastic milk or water jugs,” says Herring. Costs include purchasing milk or water throughout the year and about $10 worth of 12-hour votive candles. Setup and removal takes 30-45 minutes. An alternative to luminaries is a holiday lighting contest in which neighbors vote on the home with the best holiday display.

G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who will never forget her family’s tradition of opening gifts with her brother and six cousins on Christmas Eve at their grandparents’ house in Solon, Ohio. As the day turned into evening, all eight kids would be anxiously asking, “Can we open presents yet? Can we open presents yet?”

As of November 1, 2009 New York State will now require all boaters and their passengers on recreational watercraft which are less than 21 feet in length to wear a personal floatation device during off-season boating activities, between Nov. 1 through May 1, the violation of can result in a fine of $25 to $100.  This new law will cover all vessels from kayaks and canoes to motorboats, sailboats and rowboats.�