OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Welcome to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Participating Communities Resource Page
NFIP participating communities include 552 of the 566 New Jersey municipalities and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. This New Jersey-specific Resource page is intended to provide resources to assist communities in achieving minimum compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program. Key to ensuring that a community is compliant is adopting and enforcing a flood damage prevention permit through a robust permitting program that permits both structural and non-structural development. Links to the Model Ordinance and Model permit webpages are provided below. Keep up with the latest news for NFIP communities by subscribing to the Floodplain Communicator Newsletter.
FEMA evaluates NFIP minimum compliance through compliance audits known as Community Assistance Visits (CAVs) or Community Assistance Contacts (CACs). These are performed to ascertain community compliance with the NFIP, at entry into the Community Rating System (CRS), and to maintain participation in the CRS. FEMA may conduct these with Region 2 staff, with NJDEP staff under the Compliance Assistance Program – State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE) grant, or with private contractors. FEMA Region 2 oversees and evaluates all CACs and CAVs conducted in the Region. While there is some flexibility in how a CAV or a CAC is conducted, CAVs are generally more rigorous than CACs. As FEMA is in the process of updating its guidance on compliance audits, the current guidance, Guidance for Conducting Community Assistance Contacts and Community Assistance Visits, FEMA F-776, April 2011 – has been removed from the FEMA.gov website. It can still be found online, however. See Here for More Information
FEMA evaluates the following key areas in a compliance audit:
- The Community’s Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
- Mapping Products and other Ordinances used to regulate floodplain development
- Floodplain Development Permitting Procedures
- Floodplain Permit Applications and other Forms/Records including Substantial Damage and Improvement Determinations
- Floodplain Development Review and Performance Standards
- Floodplain Development Permits Issued to Applicants
In these visits and contacts, FEMA requires that communities provide a list of permits issued over a specified time period using a FEMA-provided permit spreadsheet. Additionally, FEMA or their representative sends a letter in advance of a visit detailing the information to be discussed and requiring that the Floodplain Administrator and any individual who performs a delegated floodplain management responsibility attend the visit.
- FEMA Permit Spreadsheet (Coming Soon)
- Sample Compliance Assistance Visit Letter
- Community Self-Assessment Worksheet
- New Jersey Model Ordinance Adoption Resources
- New Jersey Model Flood Damage Prevention Permit Resources
- Local Design Flood Elevation Worksheet New Jersey’s Flood Hazard Area Control Act (FHACA) requires that the best available most recent data is considered in developing a design flood elevation and the Uniform Construction Code (UCC) defers to the American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE) Standard for Flood Resistant Design and Construction (ASCE 24-14) to establish freeboard requirements. Local communities may also adopt mapping requirements and additional freeboard that must be considered when setting the “Local Design Flood Elevation” (LDFE). The LDFE may be higher than the state minimum Design Flood Elevation, but in no cases can it be lower than what is required by both the FHACA and the UCC. Determining the LDFE requires consideration of several factors and the choosing of the most restrictive requirements. For clarification, a LDFE-Worksheet was developed to assist municipalities with their decision-making
- Substantial Damage Management Plan Template (.docx)DEP and a focus group of municipal officials developed this template for communities to implement post-disaster. Though some communities may be developing and adopting it to gain CRS credits, it is a helpful resource for towns to use to set up their process for substantial damage reviews and to communicate with their residents after an event.
Floodplain Communicator Newsletter – View past issues, the index, and access the subscription link
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Welcome Homeowners! As you are a New Jersey Homeowner, it is important that you are currently or in the future in the risk of flooding. The importance of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is that if your house is subjected to a flood you may receive compensation if you have purchased the NFIP. Attached Below is a link to FEMA’s Homeowners Frequently Asked Questions which include information on the Nation Flood Insurance Program, Flood Insurance Rate Maps, Flood Insurance Study Tutorials, Flood Insurance and Elevation Certificates.
There are also links located in the shortcut box on the left that provide links to pages about the importance of flood insurance, how to buy it and understand the cost. This a page to introduce new homeowners that may be moving into a floodway on how to purchase flood insurance and what it protects exactly. Within the shortcut box, there is also a link for NFIP lowest floor guide which will show you the lowest floor you can have based on what kind of building you are constructing or where the building may be located. For Homeowners it is very important to know what to do in case of a Flood. There are various ways to prepare which can be seen in the link included below along with evacuation routes for each county within New Jersey State. These websites have been created for the public by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM).
Along with the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, there are also more sources of knowledge for the preparation in case these events were to occur. Along with these preparation resources there are recovery resources for help in case the flood impacts you in a negative way. These can be seen below.
The Flood Mapping Shortcut Box to the left provides various Flood Mapping sources. The FEMA Map Service Center is used to find Effective Maps, Preliminary Maps, Flood Insurance Rate Panels (FIRMS), Regulatory Products, and Non-Regulatory Products. Non-Regulatory is the Flood Risk Products which are the Maps, Reports, and Database. Also located in the Flood Mapping Shortcut box is the FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers (NFHL) Interactive Map. This NFHL Map allows you to determine what kind of Flood Zone you may be in. The NJ-Geoweb is an online Interactive map with various GIS Layers including environmental monitors, geology, sites and facilities, land use and many more. The Preliminary Map comparison tool is used to compare effective and preliminary maps. Along with these tools there are other ones that are helpful with mapping which can be seen below.
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Between Insurance Agents and Real Estate Agents it is good to know what to do when asked about Flood Risk and/or Flood Insurance. Below are common links that can be used to answer general questions that you may be asked.
Below are links that Clients should be aware of before closing or in general when it comes to Flood Insurance or Flood Risk.
| What Clients Need to Know | Description |
| Lower-Cost Flood Insurance: The Preferred Risk Policy |
Along with the Basics and what clients need to know there are more resources that go over the principles of Flood Insurance along with there coverage. There are also links that provide you information on ways to lower the cost of your premium insurance and the Insurance Claims Process. This would all classify as Flood Insurance Coverages and Claims.
In the Flood Mapping Aspect, an additional resource that can be used is the Interactive map provided by FEMA Region II. This allows the user to look up the respective address of house and it will tell them what the Base Flood Elevation is for that location.
Flood Insurance Coverages and Claims:
Basic Principles of Flood Insurance: 4 Short Videos
Click here to see the most up-to-date FPA Guidebook
The Bureau of Flood Engineering and the NJ NFIP State Coordinator’s Office is pleased to announce the development of a draft Floodplain Administrator Guidebook. The development of this Guidebook is in response to and support of New Jersey’s Climate Change Resilience Strategy (Resilience Strategy), released in October, 2021. The Resilience Strategy has 125 actions identified over 6 core priority areas but specifically identifies the role of Floodplain Administrators as important to Priority 1: Build Resilient and Healthy Communities. Three excerpts from Strategy 1.2: Increase Technical Assistance Programs to Address Community Resilience stand out:
“Maintaining an understanding of the requirements of the NFIP……. presents a considerable challenge, particularly when there is a high turnover rate among local floodplain administrators.”;
“Unlike local planners and engineers, there are no requirements that floodplain managers have any special knowledge, skills, or understanding to execute the function of the position. As the climate continues to change, the need for expertise at the local level will only grow.”; and
“While all municipalities face impacts from climate change, some towns are at an increased risk and have less resources to address their vulnerabilities. Prioritization of technical assistance resources for these communities is necessary to ensure an equitable increase in resilience across all municipalities in the state, regardless of size and capacity.”
These three excerpts from the Resilience Strategy were underlying factors in developing a resource which all of New Jersey’s Floodplain Administrators can use to navigate State and Federal floodplain standards. The guidebook is intended as a living document with changes made as floodplain management regulations, building codes, and FEMA technical guidance change. More importantly, it is an important tool for ensuring that all municipalities, regardless of size or capacity, have the ability to obtain clear and consistent technical assistance that can aids their communities in enhancing their resiliency.
This document is released as a draft for comment which reflects the Flood Hazard Area Control Act and NFIP regulations as of June, 2022. Interested parties are encouraged to email either Joseph.Ruggeri@njdepwptest.net and/or Kunal.Patel@njdepwptest.net with any comments on the Guidebook.
Federal Flood Control Projects. Coordinate and assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in the planning, design and construction of flood protection projects by obtaining all required State approvals and permits for the project designs. Schedule and attend meetings with the USACE, county and local government officials, and citizens group. Conduct field reconnaissance and surveys for and with the USACE, as necessary, in the planning and construction of flood protection projects. Review of economic analyses and engineering designs including hydrologic, hydraulic, structural reports and, construction plans and technical specification documents. Prepare applications and obtain all necessary State approvals and permits (LURP-SEP, IP; NJDOT; NJ Transit; Landfill Disruption; Site Remediation; Historic Preservation; Fish & Wildlife; Green Acres) required for USACE flood protection projects. Monitor and inspect USACE flood protection projects during and after construction to assure that project facilities are constructed and maintained in accordance with plans, specifications and operation manuals.
Community Assistance Program Unit
Our office provides floodplain management assistance to local communities throughout the state through our National Flood Insurance (NFIP) Community Assistance Program.
State Authority
The Legislature of the State of New Jersey has in N.J.S.A. 40:48-1, et seq., delegated the responsibility to local governmental units to adopt regulations designed to promote public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizenry. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is designated as the State agency responsible for coordinating Federal, State and local aspect of flood plain management activities as required under the provisions of the National Flood Insurance Program.
Five-Year Vision for Floodplain Management
The goal of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is to reduce threats to life and property through improved flood hazard information, enforcement of flood damage reduction regulations, and promotion of flood damage reduction activities including, and also exceeding, minimum NFIP standards. The challenge is to provide appropriate outreach in a State with 549 municipalities in the Regular Program. NJ is the number five state in the nation for the number of flood insurance policies.
Current Efforts.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection currently carries out its responsibilities under the Community Assistance Program with its current Floodplain staff within the Bureau of Dam Safety and Flood Control.
New Jersey has 566 municipalities with 549 participating in the National Flood Insurance Program. Maintaining an understanding of the requirements of the NFIP in each of these municipalities presents a considerable challenge, particularly when there is a high turnover rate among local floodplain administrators.
The program goal is ideally to reach out to each NFIP participating community over a five-year cycle through CAVs, CACs, workshops and technical assistance contacts.
Community Assistance Visits. CAVs are the most in depth form of contact with a local community. Because of limited staff we try to coordinate joint CAVs with Region II in municipalities with repetitive losses, high numbers of policies or losses, with new or proposed new development, with new floodplain administrators, and with known floodplain development problems.
The municipalities requiring a CAV are developed through negotiation with FEMA Region II, according to the standards mentioned above. When flooding occurs, it becomes necessary to revise priorities in order to visit flooded communities.
Community Assistance Contacts. CACs are short visits or telephone interviews. Sometimes a CAC results from a site visit to provide assistance with respect to specific development. Other times, they are targeted to communities that have not received an NJDEP or a FEMA contact in some time. General technical assistance contacts often become CACs due to the time spent assisting a community with a project.
Local Ordinance Assistance. New Jersey municipalities must formally adopt new and revised map panels and Flood Insurance Studies in order to legally enforce NFIP requirements. Due legal process requires that a community have a public process to adopt and enforce a Flood Insurance Rate Map and Flood Insurance Study. This requires communities to formally adopt by ordinance any new or revised map panel or Flood Insurance Study that affects land within its jurisdiction. To assure that New Jersey municipalities maintain the legal ability to enforce NFIP development requirements, the NJDEP works with local communities to help them maintain local laws that are compliant with NFIP regulations. In particular, NJDEP provides local municipalities with a model local ordinance and map adoption language, and reviews local ordinance amendments and replacements.
Workshops and Other Training. We provide an average of two technical workshops per year on NFIP issues. Most workshops are five-hour introductory level NFIP workshops for local code officials.
General Technical Assistance. One of the most important things the State does to support the NFIP is to provide technical assistance to local officials, property owners, developers, architects, engineers and surveyors with respect to development in a Special Flood Hazard Area. Such assistance results in development which is more flood resistant, and which is compliant with NFIP standards. Technical assistance contacts range from ten-minute telephone calls to detailed technical assistance on a project that can take days of staff time. Often a workshop results in a sudden increase in calls from community officials who now have learned enough about the NFIP that they want to call for additional information.
Assistance to Communities to join the CRS. Residents of New Jersey municipalities participating in the Community Rating System (CRS) have the possibility of receiving up to a 45 percent premium reduction. The New Jersey Dam Safety program, new state storm water management requirements, and the development of all hazard mitigation plans, provides CRS credits for all municipalities. We also encourage communities to adopt freeboard elevation requirements, which also provide CRS credits. Many municipalities in New Jersey are small and lack the professional support to fill out a CRS application, or do not have the flood insurance policy base to make it worth their while. However, we do reach out to communities during CAVs, CACs, technical assistance contacts and workshops to promote the CRS.
Mapping Assistance. Prioritize mapping projects in New Jersey with consideration of variables such as population, past and projected population growth, adequacy of current maps, development in floodplains, historic flood losses, links to other state or federal projects (such as Corps of Engineers flood protection projects), and changes to floodplains.
In coordination with FEMA Region II and the mapping contractor, meet with all local communities in proposed new mapping areas to present the nature of the project and to discuss their priorities. Local and state priorities are developed into project wide scoping materials as a Time and Cost meeting. Such meetings for countywide mapping projects are held two to four times over a two to three day period in at least two central locations. Every community in a county is invited, and NJDEP staff, with FEMA’s assistance, meets one on one with each community in order to develop each community’s mapping priorities. A letter to each community’s Chief Elected Official then verifies those priorities. Priorities are then developed on a county or project wide basis.
Participate with FEMA in Community Coordination Meetings upon the completion of any preliminary map. Communities are presented with maps, asked about necessary corrections, and are provided information about the statutory appeals process and map adoption process. These final map meetings are held at county-wide sessions to which every community is invited and NJDEP staff, with FEMA’s assistance, meets with every community.
Coordination with Other State Programs and Agencies. NJDEP works closely with the Office of Emergency Management, New Jersey State Police, Mitigation Division to assist with mitigation programs such as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program, and the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program. In particular, NJDEP assists NJSP-OEM to review and rank grant applications, and review applications for consistency with floodplain development standards. NJDEP also provides engineering assistance when needed for review of projects in waterways or floodways.
Assistance to Communities in Responding to Disasters.In the event of a disaster that impacts properties in flood hazard areas, NJDEP makes disaster response a priority over other CAP-SSSE activities. In particular, NJDEP works with NJSP-OEM, FEMA and other agencies to provide NFIP-related support and training during and immediately after disasters. NJDEP performs or assists with community visits in impacted communities. NJDEP also provides support to FEMA as needed in damage assessment, collection and documentation of high water marks, and community outreach. In the event of a large disaster, other contracted activities may be delayed or replaced.
Floodplain Communicator
The National Flood Insurance Program Floodplain Communicator is a quarterly floodplain management newsletter written for local officials and funded through a compliance assistance grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It was created to assist the 552 NJ local governments that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) so they can meet the minimum standards and explore ways to improve resiliency and implement higher floodplain standards. This newsletter will also help keep local officials informed on New Jersey’s efforts to adapt as New Jersey’s climate changes.