Flood Risk Tools for New Jersey and New York Communities

Flood risk product samples including a graphical representation of a database, the cover of a sample Flood Risk Report document and a sample Flood Risk Map prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Besides the updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports being developed based on the coastal flood study underway, FEMA, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and other organizations, is also providing communities with other tools they can use to better understand and plan for flood risk.

What Are Flood Risk Tools and How Can They Be Used?

Flood risk tools can help community officials in planning efforts to reduce (or “mitigate”) flood risk, communicate with the public, and create a dialogue with neighboring communities about ways to reduce future flood risk. There are different types of flood risk tools (also referred to as “non-regulatory products”), including GIS datasets, maps, and reports. Each is described on the Flood Risk Tools Descriptions page. These tools are not directly tied to regulatory development standards and insurance requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program like the FIRM and FIS report are but are nonetheless important resources to support community planning efforts.

When Will the Flood Risk Tools Be Released?

The flood risk tools are in the process of being released on a rolling basis by county. Draft versions of certain tools will initially be released at the time of Flood Risk Review and Flood Resilience meetings for each community. Final versions of the tools will be released at the time of the CCO meeting. (See graphic below).

The coastal flood study timeline includes the following steps. First the preliminary work maps are released, followed by the Flood Risk Review Meeting. Then the preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are released followed by the Resilience Meeting and the Community Consultation Office (CCO) Meeting. A 90 day appeal period occurs after the CCO Meeting. Once all received appeals have been resolved, a Letter of Final Determination is issued followed by a 6 month compliance and map adoption period. Once complete, the FIRM becomes effective. The following draft Flood Risk tools are distributed at the Flood Risk Review Meeting: Changes Since Last FIRM, Depth Grids, and Areas of Mitigation Interest. Additional draft Flood Risk Tools are distributed at the Resilience Meeting including Flood Risk Assessments, Primary Frontal Dune Erosion Areas, Coastal Increased Inundation Areas, and the Flood Risk Database, Report and Map. Final Flood Risk Tools are distributed at the CCO Meeting.

Where Can I Get the Flood Risk Tools?

Flood risk tools are currently being developed and will be available through county-specific links below as they are released. Draft versions of certain flood risk tools are now available for the counties listed below:

Datasets Available: Changes Since Last FIRM, Flood Depth and Water Surface Elevation Change Grids, Areas of Mitigation Interest, and for selected counties Coastal Flood Risk Assessments and Coastal Increased Inundation Areas (Visit the Flood Risk Tools Descriptions page for descriptions of these datasets)

* In these counties, a dataset which shows the change between the flood hazards shown on the Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) maps and the preliminary work maps which show the full results of the coastal flood study is available.

Please be advised that all datasets available through the links above are currently in draft form and are subject to change.

How Can I Learn More About the Flood Risk Tools?

Visit the Flood Risk Tools Descriptions page to learn more about each dataset and product which will be distributed. Additionally, the documents below provide more information about the flood risk tools and how they can be used.