FEMA and the NYS DEC are holding meetings for the public on the preliminary flood insurance study, which will affect flood insurance rates. FEMA is holding six meetings for elected officials that are working sessions, and three for the general public.

The meetings for the public cover the same essential material so residents only need to attend one of the three sessions. Three open houses have been scheduled due to the high interest in the issue and the public is invited.

The first meeting will be held for the public in the Town of Oyster Bay at the Cantiague Elementary School cafeteria, in Jericho, at 678 Cantiague Rock Road on Tuesday, July 22, from 4 to 9 p.m.

The second public meeting will be held for the Town of North Hempstead at the TR Legislative Building in Mineola, on Wednesday, July 23, from 4 to 9 pm. The Town of Hempstead meeting will be held in the Nassau Community College center multi-purpose room at 1 Education Drive, Garden City, on July 24, from 4 to 9 p.m.

Barbara Lynch, FEMA spokesperson said, "Interestingly, on the north shore, there have been changes, and 892 sites have been removed from the special flood hazard area, a 97 percent decrease."

She said, "In the Village of Bayville, there are 160 reductions which is a 10 percent decrease, in the special flood hazard area.

Lynch said, "James Goolsby, the building inspector for the Village of Bayville said, 'Thank God we re-did the maps. They were old and not realistic. They were not consistent with what happened with Hurricane Gloria, which was a high water mark for the village.'"

Lynch said the maps have not been adopted as yet. "We don't adopt them. They have to be adopted by the community. As member of the National Flood Program, each community has to adopt the map."

Being in a flood zone, she explained means that when someone builds, they have to use certain specifications on being in a flood zone.

Lynch said, "In Oyster Bay Cove, 10 structures are being removed from the flood plain. That is 77 percent removed from the flood plain." It should be noted that Oyster Bay Cove is a small village with only four streets. It is also situated on high ground.

Lynch said, "The decisions are made according to the elevation of the land... although there are people who elevate their structures and in New York State, a two foot freeboard: 2 ft. above baseline is allowed. The designations indicate the projected level the water will rise in a hundred year flood, or one percent of happening in any given year."

Maps, she said, are sent to the municipality's building inspector office. "They need to know if a building is in a flood zone."

Lynch acknowledged that there will be meetings held by FEMA in Jericho; Mineola in the TR Legislative chamber; and a third one at Nassau Community College in Garden City for local residents to learn more about the flood maps.