Hurricane Season has just begun in the Atlantic, a season stretching from June 1 to November 30 of this year. It is important to properly prepare yourself and your community in case of severe weather events such as Hurricanes. This season more so than usual, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an above normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season this year.
“The agency is forecasting a range of 14 to 19 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, 6-10 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3-5 major hurricanes (category 3,4, or 5; with winds of 11 mph or higher). NOAA has a 70% confidence in these ranges” (NOAA)
In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency emphasizes the importance of preparation and understanding how to best keep yourself safe. Knowing how your community is going to receive emergency alerts, and the best evacuation route is important, as is knowing how to prepare your home from a storm event in case of flood or loss of power. The NJ Office of Emergency Management primarily follows NOAA and FEMA guidance but regularly communicates with the public on their social media pages found here. You can also reference NJOEM’s Hurricane Survival Guide for NJ.
“Preparation is key to minimize the impact of a hurricane. Remember, the time to prepare for a hurricane is now, before a hurricane threatens your area. By staying informed, understanding your risk, being in the know about evacuations, making a plan and building kit, you can be better prepared to handle whatever comes your way.” (FEMA)
The National Flood Insurance Program was designed to help best prepare homes, properties, and their inhabitants in such weather events. It is a good time as a participating community, for a review on program offerings and ensure updated action if necessary.
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The New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management (NJAFM) is hosting their 20th annual conference this October at the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City. The conference is a yearly exchange of new ideas, innovations, and analysis on floodplain management as well as its techniques, programs, and technology through collaborative discussions, research presentations, expos, networking opportunities and more! Registration has now opened, so be sure to register and mark your calendars for this exciting event! You can find the link to register here.
NJAFM is also offering scholarships that cover full registration all 3 days of the conference. These scholarships are available active members in good standing (or have just applied for membership) and a local government jurisdiction representative in a relevant capacity (e.g. floodplain administrator, CRS coordinator, code official, mayor, or emergency manager). These scholarships are given in preference of first-time attendees and are awarded on a rolling first come basis. Applications and more information may be found here and are due prior to July 18th.
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The call for abstracts and presentations is still ongoing! Abstracts are due for initial review by June 30 and fully completed and submitted by June 30. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to share your organizations innovative developments or techniques to aid in floodplain management. You may find more information about abstract requirements on the NJAFM website here.
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This spring, NJDEP hosted their Earth Day event at Liberty State Park. The event was held with fun activities for friends and family, activities, environmental and eco friendly group exhibitions. NJDEP’s Division of Resilience and Construction set up shop to educate on Flood Engineering, Coastal Engineering, and Dam Safety. With posters and interactive models, volunteers were able to demonstrate how coastlines and watersheds are impacted by flooding, and how the Division works to mitigate it and protect the public. Presenters were also able to talk about and show pictures of real-life projects in NJ that utilized the same principles in the models. Be sure to keep up on other educational, recreational, or family events with the NJDEP here.
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Please take advantage of the last three scheduled NFIP Review Course opportunities available. The NFIP Review Course is a free, no-cost training for New Jersey municipal, county, and state officials, as well as the general public, looking to expand their knowledge of floodplain management and obtain their Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) certification. This course was developed and sponsored by the NJDEP, Bureau of Flood Engineering. More information on current course availability and registration at: NFIP Review Course - NJAFM. The next course begins July 8th in Monmouth County.
As you are aware, every municipality in NJ is required to have a Local Floodplain Administer (FPA) to participate in the NFIP. The NFIP provides flood insurance coverage to homeowners and businesses in the State within participating communities. Participation in the NFIP also allows the community to be eligible for Federal grants or loans under programs administered by Federal agencies such as HUD, EPA, and SBA; allows the community to receive Federal disaster assistance; and Federal mortgage insurance or loan guarantees may be provided in identified flood hazard areas for policies written by FHA, VA, and others.
Floodplain management is an important and required responsibility of local municipalities in New Jersey. NJDEP urges every community in NJ to send their Local Floodplain Administrator (FPA), Building Code official, Zoning officer, Emergency Manager or other local officials to this very important training opportunity.
As the climate continues to change, the need for expertise at the local level will only grow. While all municipalities face impacts from climate change, some towns are at an increased risk and have less resources to address their vulnerabilities. Education of the local FPA is necessary to ensure an equitable increase in resilience across all municipalities in the state, regardless of size and capacity.
This course closely follows the FEMA 480 NFIP Floodplain Management Requirements: Study Guide and Desk Reference for Local Officials (February 2005). The course duration is about a month and features three in-person instructional days to complement online self-paced learning with two days focused on the NFIP and a third day focused on NJ requirements. Afterwards, students can arrange to take the CFM exam virtually. This course will be held at numerous locations in New Jersey through Summer 2025.
Pre-Registration is required through NJAFM's website prior to the start of the course.
Upcoming training will take place in Monmouth, Hunterdon, and Cape May Counties. If interested, register soon, as there are only 30 seats, with priority given to local officials and floodplain managers.
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