New Flood Elevations Maps Released For Four New Jersey Counties

by Daniel Nee

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has released its latest – and nearly final – round of flood insurance rate maps for four New Jersey counties, as well as New York City.

The Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps, also called preliminary FIRMs, are subject to a 90 day appeal period before they become FIRM maps, which will dictate flood insurance renewal rates and building height requirements. It is expected that it will take another 12 to 18 months for the preliminary FIRM maps to be finally approved.

The preliminary maps have been released for Ocean, Monmouth, Middlesex and Hudson counties in New Jersey as well as the five boroughs of New York City.

In many cases, the new maps include the removal of some areas from the highest risk flood zones – V, or "velocity" zones – that carry with them higher flood insurance rates and a requirement that homes must be elevated using a piling, rather than block, foundation.

Appeals to the new maps must be filed through a resident's municipal government.

The maps are available online at: http://www.region2coastal.com/preliminaryfirms.