Help Burst those Flood Insurance Myths
An important component of promoting flood insurance is dispelling the myths that persist about it. Below are a few of the most salient misunderstandings about flood insurance and some straightforward explanations of what is really true. Your community may find it helpful to use the linked materials to address mistaken beliefs among your residents. Also, there are several “myths” articles in the linked materials that could be reprinted to highlight some of the ideas below.

MYTH My homeowner’s insurance covers flooding.
This may be the most prevalent misinformation of all. In fact, almost no homeowner’s insurance policies cover flood damage. That is why the federal government created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flood insurance is sold as a separate policy, so even if a person’s regular agent doesn’t handle flood insurance, it can be obtained from another agent who serves that area. To find one, people can contact the NFIP call center at 800-427-4661 or www.FloodSmart.gov.
Communities can distribute FEMA’s palm card, “Your Homeowners Insurance Does Not Cover Flooding.” One flood survivor who had that separate policy- and was glad he did – tells about it in a one-minute video from FEMA.

MYTH I don’t need flood insurance, because I’m not in a high-risk zone. The reality is that it can flood almost anywhere, and it doesn’t take much water to cause expensive damage. In fact, about 1/3 of all flood disaster assistance and 1/3 of all flood insurance claims payments go to people who have been flooded even though they were outside of the mapped high-
risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area). With a changing climate, scientists say that extreme weather events—like the tremendous rain that accompanied hurricanes last summer and caused localized flooding—will be more likely in the future. So living in a location that so far has been thought to be at low risk does not mean that is safe now. Why Do I Need Flood Insurance? helps people understand the need for flood coverage. Know Your Risk focuses on the potential for flooding in low-lying coastal areas. A one-minute video from FEMA tells the story of a family who were relieved that they had bought flood insurance even though they had already been through hurricanes without sustaining damage.

MYTH I can’t get flood insurance, because I’m not in a high-risk zone. Virtually anyone who lives in or owns property in an NFIP-participating community can buy flood insurance for a residential building, business, condo, or apartment, and the contents can be insured as well (or instead). Flood insurance through the NFIP has never been restricted to people located in the high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area). In fact, for people outside the high-risk zone, flood insurance is an even better deal, because the premiums are lower. An overview of the availability, coverage, and costs of flood insurance- in clear language and with sources of more information – can be found on the FloodSmart website. Communities can also use the brochure about the preferred risk policy for low-hazard areas.

MYTH Even if my house did flood, it wouldn’t be by much.
There may not be very much water, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be much damage. Only one inch of water in an average home can cause more than $25,000 in damage. A handy visual representation of this is the Cost of Flooding tool developed by FEMA. It is a simple interactive device to help people see how the depth of flooding translates to damage costs. This link is a good addition to a community’s flood awareness website.

MYTH I don’t need flood insurance because FEMA gives disaster assistance. The truth is that FEMA can only provide disaster assistance when the president issues a disaster declaration—this happens for less than half of all floods. Even if there is a disaster declaration, FEMA can only provide small grants, not enough to cover all losses and certainly not enough to rebuild. For example, in Hurricane Harvey the average individual grant FEMA distributed was only$7,000. Most other federal disaster assistance comes in the form of loans, which much be repaid. By contrast, in Hurricane Harvey, the average NFIP claim payment was over $100,000—that’s a payment from the insurance policy and of course never has to be repaid. And, a flood insurance policy pays for any covered damage, even if it results from a small (not disastrous) flood. Use the two-page handout, “The Benefits of Flood Insurance vs. Disaster Assistance,” to compare the two.

Plan, Adjust, Recover—Flood Response Preparations

While parts of the country are bracing for frigid temperatures and icy conditions, the next flood might not be at the top of the “worry” list.

Before

Proactive communities send messages to the public well in advance of the next flood, so citizens don’t become complacent. People tend to think outreach should ramp up before hurricane season and, although that may be true on the coast, most communities are vulnerable year-round, and everyone needs to be ready for the next flood. Messages before a flood can range from flood safety (Turn Around Don’t Drown) to property protection techniques to how to gather information for insurance purposes. People who’ve never been flooded before usually believe they never will, and reminding them of past local disasters drives home the point that you never know when it could happen.

During

The National Weather Service keeps residents apprised of current conditions and forecasts while local television stations compete to produce the best coverage and latest information. Municipalities can take this a step further and send messages that are community-specific, for example, explaining why a particular neighborhood should expect more accumulation of water because of insufficient drainage, narrow channels, and/or “choke points.” Social media like Facebook and Twitter can be invaluable for outreach during the flood. Even when the power is out, people will get in their cars to recharge their phone batteries just so they can stay connected.

After

Recovery after the storm can be a little easier if both the citizens and the community were prepared beforehand. Still, people can be overwhelmed by where to start. Communities can turn their websites into a one-stop shop for disaster information—from the locations where utility repair crews are working on a given day, to places where ice is being distributed, to tips on handling mold and mildew. Recovery won’t be the same for everyone, so it’ll be important to get the right messages to the right people.

When it’s safe, city inspectors and others will make damage assessments. This is an opportune time to also place door hangers at flooded properties to advise owners of the next steps in their recovery process—everything from what their insurance adjuster will need to how to get a permit for repairs. But recovery is more than permits and repairs. It goes hand in hand with a community’ s mitigation efforts to reduce the impacts of the next flood. And that leads back to preparation. A community that engages in outreach through all three stages of a flood will fare better in the long run. A prepared community is a resilient community and can come back stronger after a flood

Press Release

MOUNT JOY BOROUGH
PRESS RELEASE

TO: Mount Joy Borough Residents

FROM: Samuel Sulkosky, Borough Manager

DATE: January 02, 2019

RE: Reapportionment of Borough Wards; Ordinance No. 4-18 (Adopted on June 4, 2018)

Mount Joy Borough currently has a three-voting ward system known as the East Ward, West Ward and Florin Ward. Voters elect three Councilors from each of the three wards for a total of nine Councilors. In 2018, Borough Council reviewed the Borough’s ward system and decided to reapportion the Borough’s Wards.

The primary reason that the ward system is being reviewed is the population numbers per ward is very unequal. Based on the 2010 US Census, the residents per ward is as follows:

Pre-reapportionment population per ward:        Post-reapportionment population per ward:
Florin Ward: 3,404                                                             Florin Ward 2,409
West Ward: 2,151                                                                West Ward 2,507
East Ward: 1,855                                                                 East Ward 2,494

The Pennsylvania Borough Code § 601  (d) Composition states “All wards in the borough shall be numbered and composed of compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in population as practicable as officially and finally reported in the latest official census”.

The Borough Council adopted Ordinance No. 4-18 on June 4, 2018 that will redraw the Borough ward boundaries with an effective date of January 1, 2019. The Lancaster County Voter Registration Office will notify any Borough voter that is affected by this change by the first week of January 2019 by sending a new voter registration cards to those residents that will be moved to  new ward. If you have questions on ward reapportionment, you can send an email to Borough@.mountjoypa.org. The new Ward Map is available on the Borough’s website at http://mountjoyborough. com.

August 2018 Flooding Event update from PEMA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2018

Governor Wolf Announces Federal Aid Availability Following Severe Storms in South-Central Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved his request to declare a disaster in Lancaster and York Counties after significant flood damage to homes and businesses was sustained due to severe storms on Aug. 31, 2018

“Residents throughout the commonwealth are still recovering from the record-shattering storms that disrupted their lives this summer,” said Governor Wolf. “Loan programs like these provide a low-cost and accessible lifeline to individuals starting the rebuilding and recovery process.”

Homeowners, renters and businesses impacted by the storms in Lancaster and York Counties, as well as neighboring counties Adams, Berks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin and Lebanon may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans through the SBA Disaster Loan Programs.

Low-interest loans of up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. SBA regulations permit loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. Businesses and nonprofits can borrow up to $2 million to restore damaged or destroyed buildings, inventory, equipment and assets. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial qualifications.

The SBA will establish Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC) to assist anyone who wishes to apply for a loan. The DLOC’s will be open at the following locations and times:

York County Department of Emergency Services Training Room
120 Davies Dr. York, PA 17402

Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center
Conference Room
101 Champ Blvd. Manheim, PA 17545

Opening: Monday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m.
Closed: Sunday, Oct. 28
Days: Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Closing: Monday, Oct. 29: 6p.m.

SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the disaster loan outreach centers to issue loan applications, answer questions about the disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals to complete their applications.

Individuals and businesses unable to visit the centers in person may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), or by e-mailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Loan applications can also be downloaded at www.sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Completed applications should be returned to the local DLOC or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Dec. 17, 2018. The deadline to return economic injury disaster loan applications is July 18, 2019.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ruth Miller (PEMA) – ruthmiller@pa.gov

Tax payment changes

Effective 1/1/2017 Mount Joy Borough County and Municipal taxes will no longer be accepted at the Borough office.  Payments will be accepted at the following addresses

 

By Mail:

Office of the Lancaster County Treasurer

P.O. Box 1447

Lancaster, PA 17608-1447

 

In Person:

Office of the Lancaster County Treasurer

150 North Queen Street, Suite #122

Lancaster, PA 17608

 

If you have any questions, please call the Lancaster County Treasurer Office at 717-299-8222

INFORMATION FOR TAXPAYERS

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS OF LANCASTER COUNTY and the OCTORARA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT including the MUNICIPALITIES LOCATED in CHESTER COUNTY 

REQUIREMENT TO FILE A LOCAL EARNED INCOME & NET PROFITS TAX RETURN BY APRIL 15, 2016 

Any person who resides in either Lancaster County or the Octorara Area School District in Chester County during any part of a given year and who received either earned income or net profits during that year is REQUIRED to file a Local Earned Income & Net Profits Tax Return with the Lancaster County Tax Collection Bureau – or “LCTCB” – for that year.  There are no exceptions to the requirement.  Thus, you must file a return even if you filed quarterly returns for the year, your employer withheld the tax from your paycheck, and even if you do not owe any tax.  Generally, the tax return is due on or before the April 15 following the year being reported in the return.  Very importantly, you must file an annual tax return even if you do not receive a tax return form or other notice from LCTCB.

It is also STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that any person who resides in either Lancaster County or the Octorara Area School District in Chester County during any part of a particular year – but who did not receive earned income or net profits during that year – also file an annual return noting “no income” IF the taxpayer was required to file an annual return for the year preceding the year in which no income was earned.  That information will provide LCTCB with notice that interest, penalties, fines, and collection costs (late fee) should not be assessed against the taxpayer.

Quarterly Tax Return and Payment Requirement 

In addition to the annual tax return filing requirement, any person who is otherwise required to file an annual return and who is either self-employed or does not have the tax withheld from his or her paycheck must file quarterly tax returns and make quarterly estimated tax payments.  However, the quarterly return filing requirement does not apply to individuals with an annual income of less than $50,000.  A person who is required to file on a quarterly basis shall file quarterly returns and make quarterly tax payments 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter.  For 2016, a quarterly tax payment is due on April 30, July 30, and October 30 of 2015 and January 30, 2017.

If you have additional questions about quarterly filing and quarterly estimated tax payments, please consult the LCTCB Earned Income and Net Profits Tax Regulations posted at www.lctcb.org and also your professional advisors.

Consequences for Failure to File

If you are required to file an annual or quarterly tax return and you either fail to do so or the tax return is postmarked after the due date, you will be subject to interest and penalties for any tax you failed to pay by the due date AND a $25 late fee to cover the costs incurred by LCTCB in identifying, pursuing, notifying you of, and processing your late return.  

Extension of Time to File an Annual Tax Return 

LCTCB grants annual tax return filing extensions if LCTCB receives an extension request on or before the original due date for the return.

You can make an extension request by submitting any of the following to LCTCB on a timely basis: (1) a copy of your extension request to either the Internal Revenue Service or the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue for the tax year at issue; (2) a copy of documentation establishing the IRS or Department granted you an extension for the tax year at issue; or (3) marking the “Extension request” box under “Check all that apply” on the LCTCB annual return form for the tax year at issue with an “X” and returning the marked form to LCTCB with the necessary information to identify you.

Very importantly, filing an extension request does not extend the time to pay any tax due.  In that respect, LCTCB follows the practice of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.  61 Pa. Code § 117.14(a).  Accordingly, if you file an extension request, you must include with the request an estimated payment equal to what you believe you will owe for the tax year at issue.  All such payments must be made based on reasonable estimates.  Guidance as to what constitutes a reasonable estimate can be found in LCTCB Earned Income and Net Profits Tax Regulation Section 404.

If you file an untimely extension request, make an untimely payment of estimated tax, or make a timely payment of estimated tax based on an unreasonable estimate of tax liability, you will be subject to interest and penalties for any tax you failed to pay by the due date AND a $25 late fee to cover the costs incurred by LCTCB in addressing your particular circumstances.

General Information 

If you filed a paper return last year with LCTCB you will receive a return and instructions in the mail.  If you filed electronically last year you will receive a postcard which will include your PIN to file electronically this year.  Failure to receive a tax return, postcard or other notification by mail does not relieve you of your obligation to file an annual return.

You are encouraged to file your return electronically by using LCTCB eFiling available through the website at www.lctcb.org.  Successfully completing a return online will give you an instant confirmation number that your return has been submitted and that you can use as a reference in future communication with LCTCB.  If payment is due, you must also complete the payment step in the online process or you will be charged interest, penalty, and a late payment fee.

If you mail a paper return using the USPS, you are encouraged to keep a copy of your signed return.  Failure of the USPS to deliver your return may result in a late filing fee charge to you.

If you use a tax preparer please note that most preparers do not mail the local tax return for you, mailing the return is your responsibility.  If the preparer tells you that your local return was filed electronically, be sure to request a copy of the confirmation form for your records.

Additional information on who must file, how to file, and where to file your Local Earned Income Tax Return is available at the Lancaster County Tax Collection Bureau website – www.lctcb.org.

LCTCB is a non-profit, independent organization established by the school districts and municipalities of Lancaster County to collect local earned income taxes.  LCTCB is not a part of the Lancaster County government offices.  The Lancaster County government offices will not be able to assist you with the filing of your local earned income tax return.