WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. By John F. Bailey. November 8, 2007: The Common Council, 6-0, with Arnold Bernstein not present, rescheduled the Public Hearing on the Flood Control and new Flood Map Local Law needed before White Plains can be brought back into the National Flood Insurance Program today. FEMA excluded White Plains from the program, resulting in White Plains citizens being unable to renew policies expiring after September 28 or to purchase new flood insurance policies until the city is "reinstated" by the Federal Emergency Managent Agency. The Corporation Counsel, Edward Dunphy White Plains could be back in FEMA's flood insurance program by Mid-December.

Mayor Delfino said he had had a conference call with Congresswoman Nita Lowey and FEMA in Washington, today, and learned that current policies now in effect and in effect before September 28 were in fact, still in effect for policy holders.

Edward Dunphy assured that after the Council approved the law after its public hearing November 20, he would Federal Express the law to the Department of Environmental Conservation in Albany, so that department could forward the paper to FEMA to expedite the return of White Plains as a city to the Flood Insurance Program. Dunphy told the CitizeNetReporter Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains could again take out new flood insurance polices and renew expired policies by mid-December.

Councilman Dennis Power demanded to know how the flood insurance eligibility could have been allowed to lapse.

Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti said he had gotten the maps from the city department that had had the maps in mid-September, and he had not gotten through the plans in time. He said he had no idea that if the new law accepting the plans was not received by the DEC by September 28 that flood insurance eligibility would lapse without any warning or "grace period." Nicoletti told WPCNR the plans had originally arrived in April and that his office and he personally had not received the four letters the Department of Environmental Conservation had sent to the department in the city it had been corresponding with on the matter.

Mayor Joseph Delfino said his administrative office had received no warnings from the DEC either.

The little band filed out after the 25 minute meeting resolved to "move forward." 

Cary Gouldner the citizen who learned first of the city ineligibility for the National Flood Insurance program Monday night by mail from his insurance company and notified WPCNR Tuesday of the matter, said he had been told by Richard Einhorn of FEMA today that it may take awhile before FEMA reinstates even after he (Einhorn) receives it from the New York DEC about November 22.