New rules raise levels by 2 feet
in Millstone, Raritan rivers
By:Rebecca Weltmann
Manville will have to raise the elevation of new construction in certain floodplain areas due to new Federal Emergency Management Agency modifications.
FEMA recently announced its plan to modify the base flood elevations for areas of Manville, which would take effect following an adoption of the new figures by the Borough Council. The council is expected to review the matter in January. Base flood elevations are the height of the water at which there is a 1 percent chance of the water reaching its specific height in any given year.
The areas affected by the change, according to FEMA, are as follows: The Millstone River at confluence with the Raritan River changes from 39 to 41 feet; where it meets the Royce Brook, it changes from 40 to 41 feet.
Butch Kinerney, spokesman for FEMA in Washington, D.C., said the changes would not affect existing homes considered in the floodplain.
What they would affect, he said, are any plans for construction that come about following an adoption by the borough of the new elevation figures.
"That means that if the borough is going to allow construction in that floodplain area, they have to elevate those homes to prepare for the event that water happens to reach up to 41 feet in any given year," Mr. Kinerney said. "As far as average folks go, it doesn’t really mean a thing. They won’t see a change in their flood insurance rates; we’re simply saying people have a one in 100 chance of the water reaching 41 feet, which is higher than originally thought."
Mr. Kinerney added that normal flood insurance rates would continue as usual and that changes to the base flood elevations do not mean a change in insurance rates. Those already with homes or buildings in the floodplain are "grandfathered" and would not have to change their structures to meet the new requirements.
The modification plans for the base floor elevation come at a time when the borough is looking to revise the floodplain maps. No changes to the maps have been made since 1973.
Community members are invited to send comments on these plans to Angelo Corradino, Mayor of the Borough of Manville, 325 N. Main St., Manville, NJ 08835.

