NSPS and other members of the FEMA Floodmap Coalition met recently with FEMA
officials to discuss actions FEMA is taking regarding rebuilding efforts in New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut after Hurricane Sandy. While much of the discussion was about changes in flood insurance rates, FEMA officials also discussed new mapping processes in New York and New Jersey.
Prior to Hurricane Sandy, FEMA was working on updating flood maps in New York and New Jersey.
Those updated maps were set to be delivered to state and local officials in mid-2013. FEMA noted that
since existing FIRMs for those areas were developed more than 25 years ago, and because updated
FIRMs are yet to be finalized, it is vital to provide near-term Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFEs) to
support reconstruction efforts in the near term. 

Therefore, FEMA is accelerating the flood risk mapping process in coastal New Jersey and New York to
provide communities with advisory base flood elevations. This information is intended to help
communities and property owners make more informed decisions about rebuilding their homes and
businesses. Ultimately, new maps will be developed that incorporate this advisory data. This may result
in new, higher flood elevations or a new, higher risk flood zone designation. These flood elevations and
flood risk zones affect the minimum building requirements in the communities and the flood insurance
rates charged.

ABFEs will be available to communities in the following areas: New Jersey Counties: Atlantic, Bergen,
Burlington, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union. New York Counties:
Bronx, Kings, New York, Richmond, Queens and Westchester.
For more information on updated flood mapping, visit: www.region2coastal.com