The Jersey Shore Is Open for Business

Gov. Christie: Jersey Shore Is Open for Business

The New Jersey governor held a table discussion with area business owners about the prospects of the upcoming summer season.

By Edward Van Embden

Gov. Chris Christie isn’t just confident that the Jersey Shore is ready to welcome back visitors to its beaches and businesses, he’s sure of it.

At McLoone’s Pier House in Long Branch Thursday afternoon, Christie held a roundtable discussion with several area business owners to listen to their concerns and expectations for the summer, and to ask them to let him know what the state can do to facilitate the coast’s continued recovery following Hurricane Sandy.

Despite some lingering issues, the message was largely uniform.

“The good news I heard from them is that they’re open for business.”

Christie was speaking in the hard-hit central New Jersey coastline. Farther south in Ocean City, business leaders and city officials were ready toannounce even in December 2012 that “Ocean City is open for business.” Beaches, businesses and the Ocean City Boardwalk are ready for another banner season.

The goal now, Christie said, is to spread that message, to let the shore’s visitors know that their favorite summer destination is ready to welcome them for another successful beach season. Things won’t be the same, not this year at least, and some towns are further removed from recovery than others, but visitors shouldn’t let that be a deterrent when it comes to making their vacation plans. 

An ad campaign that will be featured online, on television and in print will emphasize the shore’s recovery. The state announced in February its intention to spend more than $25 million on a post-Sandy tourism campaign. The advertising effort, funded through the $50.7 billion Sandy relief package passed by Congress in January, will come out before Memorial Day and will target major metropolitan areas along the East Coast, Christie said.

He even volunteered to make an appearance in an ad or two if it would help, but said he would let someone else make that determination.

During a press conference that followed his business discussion, Christie provided an update about the Community Development Block Grant program, which will not only help residents rebuild and elevate their homes, but will provide business owners with funding to bridge their recovery efforts.

In all, $500 million of the first round $1.8 billion in CDBG money is dedicated to the state’s business owners.

Businesses should be able to apply for grant funding by May 1, Christie said, pending approval of the state’s funding plan by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees the block grant program.

As soon as that approval comes in, Christie said the state will move towards accepting grant applications.

“The fact is, as we get closer to (Memorial Day), things are going well,” he said. “We need to continue that momentum.”

The version of the Jersey Shore visitors return to is still somewhat unknown. Towns like Long Branch show little remnants of the damaged caused by Sandy, at least along the beach front properties. Take a trip down Route 35 and that’s hardly the case. Seaside Heights, along with other shore towns, are rebuilding their boardwalks and business, but still, other towns like Mantoloking in Ocean County and Sea Bright in Monmouth County are far removed from recovery.

A lot of that has to do with Sandy’s direct impact, but Christie isn’t putting all of the blame on the late October superstorm. According to the governor, some of the credit for delayed recovery falls on the lap of the U.S. House of Representatives, who pushed off approving a Sandy relief bill until mid-January.

Following Sandy, Christie said every day Congress delayed in approving a bill would add a day of recovery to the back end. We’re seeing that now, he said, as towns rush to recover, some of them still overwhelmed by widespread damage caused by the storm.

Despite the deadline pressure, Christie said the tourism season needn’t be put off.

“There will be places that have a difficult time being ready by Memorial Day,” he said. “But they will be a stark minority.”

The source of this article can be found here: Ocean City Patch

In other related news:

Christie assures shore business leaders help is on the way

By Christopher Robbins, NJ.com

Chris Christies held a roundtable with local officials and business leaders in Long Branch Thursday. The governor reassured local businesses that the state would help them prepare for the first tourist season after Hurricane Sandy. (Christopher Robbins / NJ.com)

LONG BRANCH - Governor Chris Christie reassured local business leaders reeling from the effects of Hurricane Sandy and nervous about the upcoming tourist season that help is on the way.

That help will come in the form of an advertising campaign of radio, television and internet spots to ensure tourists that shore businesses are open for business.

“An advertising program has already been approved and is being created right now,” Christie said. “It will be rolled out prior to Memorial Day.”

The campaign would be in addition to a local effort posting signs on high-traffic street corners. 

Christie also said he hoped federal dollars for a grant program to give businesses capital to resume work will be approved sometime next week, allowing the state to accept applications beginning May 1.

It will take more time, however, to repair and restore homes and buildings damaged by the storm – Christie discussed a program through the state Department of Community Affairs that will offer homeowners up to $150,000 in recovery funds on top of what they receive from FEMA and their flood insurance.

Christie promised money administered by the state would come with few strings attached.

“The only thing we’re going to do is mandate that the dune systems get rebuilt up-and-down the Jersey Shore from Sandy Hook to Cape May,” he said, adding that the work would proceed regardless of whether property owners agree.

“I have legal tools at my disposal, and I will use all of them.”

Christie also promised to be more visible along the Jersey Shore this summer.

“They’re going to see more of me at the Jersey Shore than they ever wanted to,” he said. “I’m looking forward to being in Long Branch over Memorial Day weekend.”

Christie was in Monmouth County Thursday afternoon hosting a business roundtable at Long Branch’s Pier Village.

“I wanted to take a trip here to Long Branch as we get within a month or so of the summer season to check in with business owners, find out how they were doing… and also to tell them about the programs that are getting ready to come.”

The source of this article can be found here: NJ.com

www.brunebuilt.com 

House Raising Resources

If your home is situated in low lying areas that are susceptible to floods or if your house has already been damaged earlier due to floods, you have choices on whether to raise your house. Even if you live in a moderate flood-risk area, you may still choose to elevate your home for added protection.

When you decide to elevate the house to comply with floodplain regulations, then the state and federal authorities will offer you valuable information and helpful suggestions about the process of house raising.

What To Do before Lifting Your Home

Elevating your home is necessary to protect it against floods – particularly, when your house is situated in a low lying area that is prone to floods. There is no denying that lifting your home will cost you heavily. However, the heartening news is the government has realized the gravity of the problem and has allocated fixed grant money for you to lift your house.

When deciding to elevate you house, you need to study the local ordinances and codes that will let you know what you can do and what you should not do. You should determine the level of elevation you want in order to protect your house from flood – base level or the 100-year flood, the 500-year flood, or any other level?

You must conduct a pre-study as to what kind of flooding your house is likely to suffer – taking into account the depth of flooding, the likely velocity of the floodwaters, the frequency of floods in any given year, the probable rate at which floodwaters would rise and fall, the time duration of the floodwaters remaining stagnant before they recede, and the impact of floating debris on your house.

After completing your pre-study taking into account all the above cited factors, you should consult with your local building authorities and your contractor regarding the implementation of your house elevation project.

What is home lifting?

Home elevation, simply means, raising the lowest floor beyond the flood protection elevation (FPE) -a level at which your chances of flooding are either considerably minimized or totally eliminated. The FPE will mean an extra foot of elevation to safeguard your house from the uncertainties such as floods. When a house has been elevated to FPE, it still may be subject to inundation but then only during extraordinary floods.

To those who may be less familiar with the process of house elevation, it is good to know that when a house is elevated, it is separated from its foundation by hydraulic jacks and is held up with temporary supports till a new or extended foundation is constructed beneath. As regards the choice of the new foundation, it can be extended walls or independent piers, posts, columns or pilings.

Advantages of home elevation:

There are quite a few advantages in elevating a house:

• The elevation will mean complying with your community’s floodplain management plan.
• It will substantially reduce the flood risk to the house and its contents.
• There will be no need to shift vulnerable contents above the water level whenever flood occurs.
• It can meaningfully reduce flood insurance premiums.

You may know that house elevation does not require you to buy an additional land.

House Raising

House-raising is a lengthy process that involves separating a house from its foundation and temporarily raising it with hydraulic jacks. The process is similar but distinct from house-moving, in which a house is transported some distance to a different location. Homeowners raise their houses for the following reasons:

• A basement can be constructed from an existing crawlspace. Basements significantly increase property values, and they provide additional storage and living space for occupants.
• The foundation is in need of repair.
• Flood protection can be added after a home is built by house-raising. Habitually wet basements are subject to mold growth, and the situation can be permanently remedied by raising the basement above the water table. This move can also lower flood insurance rates or ensure compliance with building codes. For homes located in special flood hazard zones, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) states that homeowners must either elevate the lowest floor above the flood-protection elevation or move or flood-proof their building.
• House-rasing can offset excessive settling.
• House-raising is done to move and rotate the structure for aesthetic purposes. For instance, buildings are sometimes rotated to avoid the unpleasantness of nearby highways or commercial structures. Houses may also be rotated to fine-tune when and where different parts of the house receive sunlight.

House-raising is a hefty undertaking, as the utilities must be disconnected and reconnected, truckloads of dirt must be excavated, and concrete walls need to be poured. The actual lifting of the structure involves long, steel I-beams and hydraulic jacks. It’s possible to lift a house rapidly, although, in certain situations, such as to avoid damage to drywall, the building might be lifted as little as 1/8-inch per day. A homeowner can expect to pay up to $10,000 to raise their 1,200-square-foot house by a few feet, and older homes may be more difficult to lift, as they typically weigh more because of their plaster construction and sturdier wood. After being raised, the building is held in place by support cribs for however long is necessary to complete the project.

The idea of hiring workers to crawl beneath a precariously perched 40- to 80-ton structure may conjure up various nightmare scenarios. And the dangers to life and property are real, which is why house-raising companies typically carry insurance to cover an unlikely, yet tragic and costly, collapse. Such an incident happened in 1994, when contractors in Canada had to scramble for their lives when inadequately nailed sheathing caused the house they were working under to slide from its foundation.

Additional Considerations for the Homeowner

• The condition of the foundation must be carefully assessed. If it’s cracked, it might need to be fixed before the house can be raised.
• Hire an InterNACHI inspector to inspect for indications that the raising process did not degrade the house’s structural integrity.
• Anticipate and plan around the impact that the house-raising will have on the neighborhood. Street parking might be temporarily blocked while the house is being raised.
• Check on height restrictions. Do the building plans exceed height restrictions set by the local jurisdiction? A municipal inspector or engineer may be required to approve the construction.
• Building permits are required, and they can be expensive.
• Items that can be moved, such as furniture and the furnace, might have to be moved out until the house is set down.
• Be sure that all power, gas and electrical connections are not only shut off, but disconnected, as well, before construction begins.

In summary, house-raising is an intensive process performed for a variety of structural, safety and aesthetic purpose

From House Raising – Int’l Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) http://www.nachi.org/house-raising.htm#ixzz2JYv1L1SE

Insulated Concrete Forms

Insulated concrete forms (ICF) are the best way to build a foundation, no question. Stack the foam blocks (expanded polystyrene), fill the void with concrete, then leave the forms in place for an already well-insulated foundation wall. Todd Parge (Advanced Building Systems) supplied us with Reward Wall Systems blocks with 2.5 inches of foam sandwiching an eight inch void for a total of thirteen inches of wall thickness. To use less concrete we could have used an eleven inch thick block with a six inch void, but it uses the same amount of rebar and we have an extremely heavy concrete floor on the main level that will serve as thermal mass for this passive solar design.

N.J. Sandy rebuilding rules: Go higher or pay more

A great trick is to frame the main level floor, partly complete here, before you pour the concrete in order to hold everything straight and plumb. We’ve even temporarily screwed floor joists on edge to the middle of the walls to ensure straightness and stability. Thanks, Todd Parge, for all the helpful tips.

New federal flood maps approved Thursday that will govern rebuilding in the state following superstorm Sandy leaves many residents with a tough choice: Go higher now or pay more later.

The new guidelines will force homeowners in flood zones to spend tens of thousands of dollars to raise their houses now or pay exorbitant premiums of up to $31,000 a year for flood insurance later.

“This rule protects the public and our residents by ensuring that the Jersey Shore and our coastal communities will be reconstructed smarter and more resilient,” Gov. Chris Christie said in announcing the maps, which were recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to municipalities last month. Read full article here.

Many at Shore will be forced to raise their homes to protect against future storms

Large numbers of homeowners along the Jersey Shore will in effect be forced to raise their homes to protect against future storms after Gov. Christie announced Thursday that the state would adopt the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s new floodplain maps.

Those whose houses were damaged in Hurricane Sandy have been struggling to figure out how to rebuild, if they can at all, since the release early last month of the new flood maps.

The maps are the basis on which federal flood insurance rates are determined, but they are likely to face challenges from local officials and are not expected to be formally certified by FEMA for up to two years. Read full article here.

What is a raised wood floor?

A raised wood floor system is an assembly of beams and girders, floor joists, and plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) floor sheathing, all properly sized, connected together and placed on a foundation. A raised wood floor system is designed to elevate the living space off the ground, isolating it from moisture and pests. American homes have been built on raised wood floor systems since Colonial times, and the aesthetic and practical reasons for building a raised home still apply today.

Many terms are frequently used to describe raised floor systems in different regions of the country. Examples include raised wood floor, off-grade floor, pier-and-beam foundation and crawlspace construction. Regardless of the exact term or construction method used, a raised wood floor system provides numerous advantages.

Types of raised wood floor foundation systems

A solid foundation is the most important part of a new home. A raised wood floor can be supported by a variety of foundation types (several are presented below). Always check the local building code for specific foundation requirements. Regardless of the foundation system used, the foundation and the footings must be of adequate size and strength to support the design loads. Once the foundation is in place, a system of beams and girders, floor joists, and plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) floor sheathing, is installed to complete the raised wood floor. View the Raised Wood Floor Foundation Systems Photo Gallery.

	Pier-and-beam foundation A builder has several options for constructing piers when building a pier-and-beam foundation. The piers can rest on spot footings or a continuous footing. The placement and spacing of the footings and the piers is determined by the location of load bearing walls and the span capabilities of the floor joists.
	Stem wall foundation A continuous foundation wall around the perimeter of the home. It is frequently constructed of reinforced masonry or poured concrete and supported by a continuous, reinforced-concrete footing.
	Wood stem wall foundation A continuous foundation fabricated of lumber-framed walls sheathed with structural plywood or OSB panels on top of a continuous footing. Wood stem walls reduce concrete costs, simplify leveling and are easily built on site.
	Wood pile and pier foundations Treated wood piles and wood piers minimize or eliminate the use of concrete altogether. They are popular in coastal areas for acquiring necessary height, but can also be cost effective for raising floors just a few feet. Piles are often used in soils with low-bearing capacity.

Building with wood

Throughout history, wood has found favor as a building material due to its strength, economy, workability, beauty and durability. Wood-frame buildings are economical to build, heat and cool, and provide maximum comfort to occupants. Wood construction is readily adaptable to traditional, contemporary and the most cutting-edge building styles. Its architectural possibilities are limitless and its durability spans the centuries.Learn more.

Wood building materials are good for the environment, too. Wood is a renewable, sustainable resource that is manufactured in energy efficient processes that optimize use of renewable energy sources. In fact, in a comparison of fossil fuel consumption associated with the materials for three floor systems – wood, concrete and steel – the wood joist floor required the least amount of fossil fuel energy.

Helpful Local Resources:

 

www.brunebuilt.com

For more information:

Brunebuilt Construction is here to help. To find out more on how to move forward with home raising, please contact us and we’ll be happy to assist you at (732) 899-8167 and for emergencies call our mobile number at (732) 581-8268.

Substantially Damaged Structures Guidelines

Brick Township Engineering Report: Substantially Damaged Structures Guidelines

If your home or business incurred damage, the Engineering Department will need to determine if your structure has been substantially damaged.  Substantially damaged means the cost to make your necessary repairs will meet or exceed 50% of the value of the structure.  In Brick Township, we use the assessed value to make that determination.

For example:

A house assessed at $100,000.00 damaged by flood, wind, fire, etc., would be considered “substantially damaged if the cost to repair the structure was more than $49,999.99.

Note: -The cost to repair the structure is utilized.  NOT the cost of repairs.  That is, the determination is made assuming that you must hire someone to complete your repairs.  If you are executing repairs yourself, or happen to have a spare hot water heater at your disposal, no credit is given for decreased cost.

Houses located in a flood zone that are substantially damaged must be retrofitted as necessary to meet current flood ordinances and construction codes.  This may involve:

Elevating the dwelling;
                Eliminating Basements;
                Raising the Crawl Space Elevation;
                Installation of Flood Vents;
                Elevating Mechanical Devices such as hot water heaters, furnaces, etc…

If your structure is substantially damaged, you may qualify for additional insurance money for the Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC).

A determination of substantial damage is made when you apply for permits to execute your repairs.   A Flood Elevation Certificate will be required for any permit application in a flood zone.

As a result of magnitude of flooded properties resulting from Super Storm Sandy, the Engineering Department will issue determinations of substantial damage prior to individual permit application submissions.  

The following information is required: a list of building damages (without  contents) accompanied by an estimated cost of repairs; and an estimate of the square footage of the inundated area, the depth of floodwater, and the floors effected, (e.g. crawlspace, finished basement, unfinished basement, first floor, sunken living area, etc..).

A Quick-Form is attached for reference.

A Flood Elevation Certificate is also recommended, but not required.  If you have one available, or if your insurance agent has one on file, please provide a photocopy with your request.

Click here for an attachment of the Brick Township Substantially Damaged Structure Worksheet:

http://www1.bricktownship.net/Portals/0/Library/Sandy/Sandy%20Sub%20Damage%20Worksheet.pdf

Toms River Township Important Information:  For Property Owners with Substantial Damage to their Property from Super Storm Sandy. Please read both attached forms very carefully as you consider your options concerning rebuilding.

Click here for an attachment of the Toms River Township Substantially Damaged Structure Worksheet: http://www.tomsrivertownship.com/downloads/substancial-damage.pdf

Shore residents duel with state over FEMA’s new house elevation requirements

By Eugene Paik and Tom Wright-Piersanti/The Star-Ledger

It’s unfair. It’s unrealistic. It’s inaccurate.

Few people attending a public meeting in Long Branch last night had anything good to say about the state’s emergency adoption of a proposal that could force homeowners to raise the height of their homes.

The meeting, held by the Department of Environmental Protection, was the first and only showdown between the state and the public over the controversial issue.

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is proposing new heights that would be considered safe for houses during floods. To meet those new standards, however, many homeowners are facing a tough choice: pay a small fortune to raise their houses, or pay a small fortune in flood insurance premiums.

“I think it’s a shame the DEP has not made a study to make sure those elevations are correct,” said Jim Fulcomer, 69, who owns a home on the South Seaside Park section of Berkeley Township.

“Has anyone seen three feet waves on Barnegat Bay?” he asked the crowd.

“No,” some people grumbled.

Last night’s hearing marked an initial skirmish in the battle against FEMA’s advisory base flood elevations, which could nearly double the number of homes in the most flood-vulnerable regions of the state.

Among the most affected properties would be homes along New Jersey’s barrier islands and the Raritan Bay. In communities such as the Ortley Beach section of Toms River and Union Beach, homes may need to be raised more than four feet.

The proposed elevations add more homes to areas called “A” zones, which are at risk for coastal flooding, and “V” zones, which are susceptible to high-velocity waves.

The problem for many homeowners is the price. They say it’s simply too expensive to raise their houses, which could cost between $40,000 and $80,000 for uncomplicated projects.

If they don’t raise them, their annual flood insurance premiums could cost as much as $31,000. That price drops to about $7,000 if the house meets minimum elevation requirements, according to Gov. Chris Christie.

About 60 people attended last night’s meeting, many questioning DEP officials about the accuracy and science of the elevations and blasting their sweeping nature.

The “V” zones were the biggest point of contention. Many said their homes, either on bays, lagoons or miles inland, would never see waves large or intense enough to warrant raising them.

RELATED COVERAGE:

• What Sandy victims need to know about new height rules for their homes

• N.J. adopts height requirements for post-Sandy building

• Di Ionno: Foes of FEMA flood maps want answers – and a place to meet

• Democratic senators slam DEP for adopting FEMA’s new flood elevation regs

• Mulshine: Shore mayors say FEMA’s all over the map

Margaret Quinn, of Toms River, told a trio of DEP officials that she didn’t understand why her house is on course to move to the “V” zone, which would force her to put her house on pilings. A project like that, she estimated, could cost upwards of $80,000.

“Living on a lagoon off a bay, we will never see waves of three feet,” she said. “You cannot put a square peg into a round hole, and that’s what we’re being asked to do.”

According to FEMA, the changes are needed to prevent a flood catastrophe similar to what happened during Sandy.

But the hurricane had little direct impact on the proposed elevations.

For two years, FEMA had been working on the advisory base flood elevations as part of a complete overhaul of the state’s maps for flood insurance rates, which hadn’t been updated in decades.

When Sandy obliterated New Jersey’s coastline last fall, FEMA released the proposed elevations in December to give rebuilding homeowners an idea of the changes that lie ahead.

The state became involved in the dispute early this year when Christie adopted FEMA’s elevations. The intention was to dispel confusion and offer guidance as homeowners rebuilt after Sandy.

The state order is already in effect, but only until March 21, said Ray Cantor, the DEP’s chief advisor to Commissioner Bob Martin. The department must decide whether to adopt the proposed elevations beyond that — for a period of seven years — using criteria such as scientific data and public comments, Cantor said.

“We need compassion from you folks,” said Kathy Serra, a homeowner from Lavallette, told DEP. “We’re not really feeling the love and we really need a bit of that.”

Anyone unable to attend last night’s meeting has until March 21 to submit written comments athttp://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/comments.

Visit us at: www.brunebuilt.com

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