WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. By John F. Bailey. November 9, 2007: Mayor Joseph Delfino told WPCNR today that his office had not been informed by the DEC that White Plains was facing exclusion from the National Flood Insurance Program leading up to September 28, as FEMA had confirmed to the citizen who had called up when he found his insurance company had cancelled his flood insurance renewal.
Mayor Joseph Delfino. July, 2007. WPCNR Photo Archive.
The Mayor criticized FEMA for not notifying his office directly the city was excluded from flood coverage effective September 28 after the exclusion was put into effect. The Mayor denied any knowledge White Plains had lost its flood insurance eligibility. A FEMA official Richard Einhorn had said that the DEC had sent the city four letters over five months or so warning of the impending exclusion from flood insurance
The Mayor has scheduled a Special Meeting of the Common Council this evening to move up the Public Hearing the Council had scheduled on the flood legislation for December to November 20 to accept the DEC flood plain rules, storm water treatment regulations and digitized mapping of the flood plains in the city which, unbeknownst to the Mayor had to be passed by the Common Council 42 days ago.
According to FEMA spokesperson Barbara Lynch in FEMA Region Two’s offices in New York, contacted by WPCNR on Tuesday, Election Day when city offices were closed, White Plains was not excluded from the Flood Insurance program FEMA administers, but rather “excluded themselves” by not informing the New York Department of Environmental Conservation they had passed the local law prior to September 28.
Mayor Thanks WPCNR for the News
Mayor Delfino said, “I appreciate you’re having the article (on the Flood Insurance cancellation) because it’s the first I’ve learned about it. I want to thank you for doing that.”
WPCNR asked if after the November 20 hearing was the council going to pass the local law, the Mayor said “Absolutely. Once we contact FEMA and advise them we’re passing it on the 20th, and have whatever paperwork is required by them sent out wherever it goes, which they sent out previously, which I wasn’t aware of – and certification.”
Mayor’s Office Not Notified by the DEC before Impending Exclusion Date.
The Mayor was asked whether the DEC had informed him personally of the impending loss of Flood Insurance coverage. He said,
“Absolutely not. I was overwhelmed when I read your article. This Mayor’s office had no idea this action was taken by FEMA. I don’t know whether Gouldner (Carey) called you or you called him. (Mr. Gouldner called WPCNR after he was informed by his insurance company is flood insurance would not be renewed ) I’m disappointed no one called the Mayor’s Office. You talked to at least Mr. Power I guess, if he was aware of any action FEMA was about to take on this… I think he could have told me. I was stunned when I read your article. Edward Dunphy ( City Corporation Counsel) brought it out to me. It really took me aback. Mr. Gouldner has a right to his personal feelings. The Mayor’s office was not, was not aware of this. I think if you come tonight you’ll hear that. Let me tell you, Bud and I (Joseph “Bud” Nicoletti, Commissioner of Public Works) have had discussions on this. We’ll our best to correct in the next 10-12 days (come into compliance by passing the Flood Plain maps.) Whatever’s required, we’ll do everything possible to correct this issue. Bud will have his explanation. He’s going to have one tonight. This was his responsibility.”
WPCNR pointed out the Council was not informed at the Monday Common Council meeting or the work session previously. The Mayor said “he knew nothing, just that we had to get this legislation done as we do all legislation, on a timely basis. It sure wasn’t because of development that this took second priority. Absolutely not true.”
FEMA Does Not Return Mayor’s Calls Today. Mayor Seeks Dispensation.
The Mayor said he had called FEMA’s office three times Thursday to explain why they had not notified the Mayor’s Office White Plains had been excluded from flood insurance. (White Plains is the only city of 46 communities in the new flood plain areas failing to pass a local law accepting the new Department of Environmental Conservation flood plain and storm water guidelines.) “I’ve called Nita Lowey’s office to see if there’s a possible way for them (FEMA) to release based on the fact we’re going to do it on the 20th, I’d be happy to do that, but I need to talk to somebody in FEMA.”
Mayor Says He Was Not Aware of the NY DEC’s 4 Warnings.
I asked the Mayor if he had received the four letters FEMA official Richard Einhorn had told Mr.Gouldner had been sent by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, over five months, warning of the September 28 deadline for passing the local law approving the new DEC flood plain maps and storm water regulations.
The Mayor said, “Well, if it did it (the DEC letters) did not cross this office. It might have gone to Public Works, because they attend these meetings of FEMA and the DEC. If there was a timetable to be met written sanction as when insurance cancels, you can be sure it was not transmitted to this office. That’s the truth. You have to ask yourself why we would ever not if we knew? Put politics aside, why would anybody want to do that?”
The Mayor finished the conversation saying he wished Mr. Gouldner had called the Mayor’s office since councilpersons whom the Mayor said he called did not have the power to correct it.
“After all this hullabaloo he calls me to say, Mr. Mayor, what are you going to do about it. We’re going to correct it. ASAP. If he had called me Monday, and I may have had a great jump on this. We may have put it on the agenda (with the new date).”
Gouldner Only Found His Insurance was Cancelled Monday.
WPCNR checked with Mr. Gouldner why he had not called the Mayor Monday. Mr. Gouldner said he only received notice of the insurance cancellation Monday evening (in Monday’s mail). He called his insurance company Tuesday to find it was flood insurance that was cancelled because the city was excluded from the FEMA Flood Insuranc Program. When he called the Mayor’s office on Tuesday, no one could be reached because it was Election Day and City Hall was closed.
Mr. Gouldner told WPCNR what FEMA official Mr. Einhorn had told him, and WPCNR confirmed with the FEMA Press Office in New York that FEMA had excluded The City of White Plains from the program.
