Category Archives: Site News

FEMA Higher Floodplain Management Standards Video

FEMA has established minimum floodplain management requirements for communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Communities must also enforce any more restrictive State requirements. Any community may exceed the minimum standards by adopting more comprehensive floodplain management regulations. In some instances, community officials may have access to information or knowledge of conditions that require higher standards than the minimum NFIP criteria. Any floodplain management regulations adopted by a state or community which are more restrictive than the criteria set forth in the NFIP regulations are encouraged and shall take precedence.

The FEMA Higher Standards video provides information about floodplain management activities that significantly reduce insured losses at the community level and encourages communities to get involved in local floodplain management. Communities that adopt higher standards may be eligible to participate in the Community Rating System (CRS). For more information about CRS, visit the CRS page at FloodSmart.gov.

New Primary Frontal Dunes Fact Sheet Available from FEMA

The FEMA Federal Insurance & Mitigation Administration (FIMA), Risk Analysis Branch is pleased to announce the new Primary Frontal Dunes Fact Sheet is now available in the FEMA Library: https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/92336.

 

The Primary Frontal Dunes Fact Sheet highlights general information about primary frontal dunes (PFDs) as well as how FEMA assesses and accounts for PFDs during their coastal flood hazard mapping studies. This fact sheet also defines common terms related to coastal flood hazard mapping studies and provides informative links on FEMA.gov.

Since they are the first line of defense to coastal flooding and subject to erosion from coastal storms, PFDs are typically mapped as Coastal High Hazard Areas with mandatory flood insurance requirements and enhanced development standards (also known as VE Zones). The fact sheet also includes information on how communities can request a change to the PFD delineation on their flood maps via the Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) process.

Now Available: Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Ocean County

Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) have been released for Ocean County, NJ and can be accessed through the Preliminary FIRM Data Viewer.  This information is also available through FEMA’s Map Service Center, the official source for preliminary and effective regulatory FIRMs. Online tutorials are available from FEMA which provide assistance in using both the FIRM and FIS Report.   Additional information is also available through the Preliminary FIRM FAQ.