If a CAT3 hurricane hits NYC, Long Island City is potentially screwed.
NYC Hurricane Evacuation Map
With all of the recent hurricane activity, looks like analysts are calculating the risk for NYC in the unfortunate case that we get hit by a CAT3 or worse. It looks like the first to go under would be lower Manhattan, followed by riverfront neighborhoods heading northward… which includes our little town, especially Hunters Point. In fact, according to the hurricane evacuation map, all of Hunters Point is either Zone A or B, meaning we’re the first to have to evacuate in the case of hurricane.
Rainy daze on 5th St, Hunters Point
“Several recent studies have suggested that global warming and an accompanying rise in ocean temperatures might increase both the strength and frequency of hurricanes. The changing climate could also result in higher sea levels. Adding as little as 1.5 feet of sea level rise by the 2050s to the surge for a Category 3 hurricane on a worst-case storm track as described above would cause extensive flooding in many parts of the city,” suggests Climate Systems Research at Columbia University.
“Areas potentially under water include the Rockaways, Coney Island, much of southern Brooklyn and Queens, portions of Long Island City, Astoria, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, lower Manhattan and eastern Staten Island from Great Kills Harbor north to the Verrazano Bridge.” The probability of such a disaster remains low, but it remains well within the bounds of possibility.”
As a side note, it was interesting to learn that in the aftermath of Katrina, many homeowners who had hurricane insurance on their property but not flood insurance, were shafted out of their insurance claims since most of the damage was deemed to have been caused by the flooding from the broken levee. Just a word to the wise for property owners in LIC.
Geography puts NYC in the ‘danger zone’ [Daily News]
NYC Hurricane Guide [pdf]
And virtually anyone buying in LIC will be forced to have flood insurance by their mortgage company.
#1 & #2 need their diaper changed.
hurricanes are definitely relevant right now. though yes, I agree another good topic is what’s going on with Lehman & ML and AIG and how that’s going to impact the RE market, especially the new condo developments. It would be great LIQ if someday we could start our own topics. hint hint.
I am hoping that with the global recession, at least my rent goes will go down!
(If I still have a job)
5, I’ve lived through several really bad recessions in NYC, and for some reason rents never seem to go down. I think it’s because fewer people buy places in the down times, and so there is greater demand for rentals.
No user initiated topics. That part of what makes this blog great. Generally people think they have great things to discuss, but most of the time they are wrong. There are other websites where you can start your own topics.
I am not sure about flood insurance. I had one until recently my mortgage company send me a letter stating that I don’t need to buy one. Although, I am not on the riverfront but in Court Square area.
Definately no user initiated topics. This is liqcity’s blog. Go to a discussion board to start your own topics.
Agreed. We don’t need threads about the best place in the neighborhood to get your nails done.
#8, don’t listen to your mortgage company. Check with the history of the Court Square area, and with FEMA, in addition to insurance compaies who sell flood insurance. They can tell you what insurance covers basic water damage, and what is considered a flood. If a water main breaks, or if your windows should break from flying objects during a major storm, and sideways rain seriously damages the inside, or if a pipe in your house should break, or your bathtub overflows; you will be screwed without flood insurance. If you live in an apartment building, others could do you damage.
I think that it is highly irresponible on the part of your mortgage company, to say what they did to you. They should have told you to seek the advice of a professional in that field. What other bad advice might they have given you?
It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Be informed.
Charlie.
#10, actually that would be a great thread.
12, then go to QueensWest.com. That’s about all that site is good for.
Actually I have a friend on 11th street whose mortgage company insisted that he get flood insurance because he is in a flood zone.
LIC is in a flood zone so insurance rates will be higher. If the water rises to my apt on the 7th floor, I’ve got bigger problems than worry about my crap.
This is old news. With what’s happening on Wall Street, you couldn’t somehow tie that into LIC real estate? You had to ‘make up’ news on a hurricane?