WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. By John F. Bailey. November 6, 2007 UPDATED 4:23 PM: The press office of FEMA Region 2 has just confirmed to WPCNR that the National Flood Insurance Program is no longer in effect in White Plains, and has not been in effect since September 28, apparently due to the new digitized flood map being lost in the White Plains Department of Public Works, according to the FEMA spokesperson.

 If you thought you had flood insurance in the city of White Plains. You do not.  FEMA suspended White Plains from the Federal National Flood Insurance Program September 28, according to Cary Gouldner, a citizen who was just informed by his insurance company they were cancelling his insurance due to the FEMA crackdown.

The Common Council apparently was not informed when they considered the legislation at last night's Common Council meeting. to conform to the new Department of Environmental Conservation flood standards, that White Plains residents were no longer covered. At the work session last week it was not revealed that flood insurance was no longer in effect.

The media spokesperson for FEMA, Barbara Lynch told WPCNR that all White Plains need do to get its citizens back into the flood insurance eligibility,  is inform FEMA after the local law is passed (as early as December 3), and the DEC would reinstate them.

Backyard on Midchester Avenue During a Northeaster in White Plains this year.

WPCNR has learned from Mr. Gouldner,  who has recently had his flood insurance cancelled by his insurance company that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has suspended the City of White Plains from the National Flood Insurance Progrthe am. Mr. Gouldner said that he had renewed his flood insurance as of November 1, only to receive a letter from his insurance company that his renewal ad been cancelled because FEMA had suspended White Plains from the Flood Insurance Program. The customer then contacted the New York Regional Office of FEMA who referred him to a FEMA office in New Jersey who informed Gouldner that FEMA had suspended White Plains from the program as of September 28.

Gouldner, speaking to WPCNR early this afternoon,  said the National Flood Insurance Program does not cover sewage backups or damage from rain. He said, though that when his basement flooded due to the Northeaster earlier this year he was covered for the three feet of flooding in his basement.

WPCNR is following the story. City Hall was closed today and could not be reached for an explanation.

Last night the Common Council set up a hearing in December on the local law dealing with amending the White Plains Municipal Code regarding Flood Damage Prevention. It has now been determined by WPCNR that these amendments were related to reinstating  the FEMA flood insurance. But, at no time last night, was there a sense of urgency involved in moving these regulations through either in the work session when the Commissioner of Public Works explained them to the Common Council, nor last night.