Sea Isle City, NJ isn’t messing around with National Flood Insurance Program compliance issues. The city recently sent out 193 court summons to owners of non-compliant structures (mostly concerning inadequate flood vents and illegal conversions of below-home storage into living space) telling them to get their structures in order.
The city’s motivation? The possible benefits to the entire community of participation in the Community Rating System.
The community is trying to work with the homeowners, who first received letters before the city took legal action. But if the owners don’t work to resolve their compliance problems, the city will take necessary action to bring the structures in line with NFIP requirements.
“Sea Isle does not want to drag anyone into court. We don’t want to fine anyone. We want to bring people into compliance so we can enter the Community Rating System.”