Floodplain Management: Floods and What to Do About It

Neptune is participating in the High Watermark Initiative.

Click on the picture below for the High Watermark Initiative Launch video.

FEMA Flood Map Service Center
Find if your home is in a flood zone

The FEMA Flood Map Service Center (MSC) is the official public source for flood hazard information produced in support of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Use the MSC to find your official flood map, access a range of other flood hazard products, and take advantage of tools for better understanding flood risk.

FEMA flood maps are continually updated through a variety of processes. Effective information that you download or print from this site may change or become superseded by new maps over time. For additional information, please see the Flood Hazard Mapping Updates Overview Fact Sheet

CLICK HERE

Click on the icon below for the 74 page Quick Guide on Floodplain Management

June 2015 

The following is a revision to DCA Guidance on Electrical Meter Placement in a Designated Flood Zone.  

Please review the documents below for detailed drawings of meter installation requirements and meter landings. The drawings have been updated to provide additional clarity regarding base flood elevation levels and the landing location.   

Attached is the link to FirstEnergy website to view the entire document:https://www.firstenergycorp.com/service_requests/request-electrical-work/jcpl-meter-placement.html 

JCP&L, A FirstEnergy Company 
Customer Service: 1-800-544-4877 

Review, Update Your Insurance Policies

EATONTOWN, N.J. - September is National Preparedness Month, and the latter half of the year is an ideal time for people to review their insurance policies. Understanding the details of what specific policies cover and what the policyholder is responsible for after a disaster is important as both clients’ needs and insurance companies’ rules change.

Insurers’ decisions and legislative changes have the biggest effect on changes in policies. Consumers should make themselves aware of possible changes in these areas and know what to look for while reviewing their policies.

What’s Covered

The first check is the most obvious: the actual coverage. Policyholders should look at the specifics of which property is covered and the type of damage that is covered. Property owners should know that floods are not covered by standard insurance policies and that separate flood insurance is available. Flood insurance is required for homes and buildings located in federally designated high risk areas with federally backed mortgages, referred to as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). Residents of communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are automatically eligible to buy flood insurance. According to   www.floodsmart.gov, mortgage lenders can also require property owners in moderate to low-risk areas to purchase flood insurance.

There are two types of flood insurance coverage: Building Property and Personal Property. Building Property covers the structure, electrical, plumbing, and heating and air conditioning systems. Personal Property, which is purchased separately, covers furniture, portable kitchen appliances, food freezers, laundry equipment, and service vehicles such as tractors.

What’s Not Covered

Policy exclusions describe coverage limits or how coverage can be purchased separately, if possible. Property owners should know that not only is flood insurance separate from property (homeowners) insurance, but that standard policies may not cover personal items damaged by flooding. In these cases, additional contents insurance can be purchased as an add-on at an additional cost. Some policies may include coverage, but set coverage limits that will pay only a percentage of the entire loss or a specific dollar amount.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Standard Flood Insurance Program (SFIP) “only covers direct physical loss to structures by flooding,” FEMA officials said. The SFIP has very specific definitions of what a flood is and what it considers flood damage. “Earth movement” caused by flooding, such as a landslide, sinkholes and destabilization of land, is not covered by SFIP.

Structures that are elevated must be built at least to the minimum Base Flood Elevation (BFE) standards as determined by the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). There may be coverage limitations regarding personal property in areas below the lowest elevated floor of an elevated building.

Cost Impact of Biggert-Waters

The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 extends and reforms the NFIP for five years by adjusting rate subsidies and premium rates. Approximately 20 percent of NFIP policies pay subsidized premiums, and the 5 percent of those policyholders with subsidized policies for non-primary residences and businesses will see a 25 percent annual increase immediately. A Reserve Fund assessment charge will be added to the 80 percent of policies that pay full-risk premiums. Un-elevated properties constructed in a SFHA before a community adopted its initial FIRMs will be affected most by rate changes.

In March 2014, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 and the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act (HFIAA) of 2014 were signed into law, lowering rate increases on some policies, preventing rate increases on others, and delaying the implementation of Section 207 of Biggert-Waters, which was to ensure that certain properties’ flood insurance rates reflected their full risk after a mapping change or update. HFIAA also repeals a portion of Biggert-Waters that eliminatedgrandfathering properties into lower risk classes. Many of the changes have not yet been implemented because the necessary new programs and procedures have not been established.

Other Conditions

The General Conditions section informs the consumer and the insurer of their responsibilities, including fraud, policy cancellation, subrogation (in this case, the insurer’s right to claim damages caused by a third party) and payment plans. Policies also have a section that offers guidance on the steps to take when damage or loss occurs. It includes notifying the insurer as soon as practically possible, notifying the police (if appropriate or necessary) and taking steps to protect property from further damage.

“FEMA’s top priority is to provide assistance to those in need as quickly as possible, while also meeting our requirements under the law,” FEMA press secretary Dan Watson said. “To do this, FEMA works with its private sector, write-your-own insurance (WYO) company partners who sell flood insurance under their own names and are responsible for the adjustment of their policy holders’ claims.”

Policyholders should speak with their insurance agent or representative if they have any questions about coverage.
For further information and direction, call the NFIP Call Center at 1-800-427-4661 or the NFIP Referral Center at 1-888-379-9531 . Comprehensive information about NFIP, Biggert-Waters, HFIAA and flood insurance in general can be found at the official NFIP website, www.floodsmart.gov

How to Pump Out a Flooded Basement
Click on the link above for directions on how to  SAFELY pump out a flooded basement

Click on the icon below for the County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan Updates

FEMA recently released this fact sheet on the Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act. (June 25, 2014)

Click here for the fact sheet (two pages). 

Most of which is found on this page can be found in one document,  Public Outreach Program. Click on the title for the document.

Here are additional features of the program:

• Neptune Twp Shark River Area Storm Surge Map
• Neptune Twp/Ocean Grove Area Storm Surge Map
• Ordinance 13-11 (Flood Hazard Regulations)
• Ordinance 13-12

FEMA has released the new Preliminary Maps which are the next step to generating new FIRM (Flood Insurance Rate Maps).  These maps can be utilized with the link tools provided for the general public to find their current Flood Elevation.  This is an important tool to find your current flood zone and elevation.  For flood elevations, these maps are the next step from the ABFE maps for flood insurance purposes.  The Preliminary Maps are the basis for what the insurance companies will base your flood insurance on.  Please be advised that these maps are “Preliminary” and are just being introduced.  The public is encouraged to review them and the flood elevations with respect to your property

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Science Branch would like to announce the release of FEMA P-942, Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey and New York.  The Report documents observations made during field visits conducted by the Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT), specifically deployed to evaluate key building damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.  It goes on to present the conclusions and recommendations derived from the field observations with regards to key engineering concepts, codes and standards, mitigation measures and considerations that can be used in the planning and recovery process to help minimize future damage to structures and their related utility systems.

Like other natural disasters, there are safety precautions that everyone can take to help protect themselves and their home in case of a flood. Floods can be the result of heavy rain, a water main break, or several other factors that are often out of the your control. If water does start to rise near your home, there are a few things that you can do to help protect your family and your house
Evacuation Routes

• If you live in a low-lying or flood-prone area, you should familiarize yourself with the nearest flood evacuation route. These routes are designed by your community government to help everyone get out of the flood zone quickly in case of emergency. An official flood evacuation route should be marked with traffic signs. You can also get a copy of the evacuation route for your area through your local emergency services or government offices. Make sure that both you and your family are familiar with the route and have a meeting place designated out of the flood zone in case you are separated in an emergency situation.

  CLICK HERE for evacuation route. Hit CTRL and the plus sign to make it larger. (CRTL +). Continue to hit the keys to enlarge it.

Drains

• When the weather report shows a heavy or severe rain storm moving in your direction, take a few moments to go outside and make sure that your drainage ditches and storm drains are clear from debris. In a heavy storm these drainage areas can become clogged with debris, causing water to rise and potentially flood your home. Use a shovel or rake to clean these areas out, moving the debris off to where it will not easily wash back into the drain with the rain to make sure that water is allowed to run freely away from your home during the storm.

•  

Flooded Areas

• In the event a flood does occur, do not try to cross flooded areas. A good rule of thumb is that if the water is above your knees, do not try to cross it, either on foot or in a car. Maintain a safe distance, a minimum of six feet, away from running water, drains and ditches to prevent falling in. You should report any damaged electrical equipment, buildings and roadways to local emergency services immediately. Do not try to clear or repair damaged areas on your own. You should also make sure that both you and your family go to safety immediately. Do not linger to sight-see or attempt to help emergency crews unless asked to do so.

   

  TAKE PRECAUTIONS BEFORE A FLOOD OCCURS

   

  1. Check your home for loose shingles and shutters, shaky chimneys, and other loose materials. 

  Objects such lawn furniture, toys, garden tools, garbage cans, and garbage can covers can 

  cause damage when carried by high winds. Secure tool sheds and playground sets. Store 

  valuablessuch as books, photographs, records and documents, etc. in areas of the home which 

  might not be subject to flooding. Maintain a list of items that should be moved to higher 

  ground if water threatens to enter the home. Move hazardous materials to higher locations 

  including paints, oils, cleaning supplies, garden pesticides and fertilizers, gasoline and other 

  dangerous materials. Visit www.fema.gov/areyouready/flood.shtm.

   

  2. Maintain battery-powered equipment. A battery-powered radio could be your only source of 

  information and flashlights will be needed if utility services are interrupted. Flashlights are 

  available that do not require batteries. Take extreme care in the use of candles to avoid fires.

   

  3. Cable Phone Service: If your plan service is provided by your cable company, it will be 

  interrupted if the power goes out.

   

  4. Signup for the Emergency Notification System, (Reverse 9-1-1) a service that allows the 

  Office of Emergency Management to contact registered phones with critical and timely 

  information. You can register your home, cell phones and office phones. You can sign up for 

  the Emergency Notification System  at https://shoreareaens.onthealert.com/Terms/Index/?ReturnUrl=%2f

   

  5. Learn the location of the home’s water supply pipeline valves and shutoff, master electrical 

  switches, and gas shutoff valves. Do not wait until areas of your home become inaccessible 

  before deciding to shut off these services. All family members should know how to access 

  these utilities.

   

  6. Tune to the local television stations for the latest weather advisories and special instructions 

  from your local government. Avoid accepting and passing on unverified information. 

   

  7. Plan your evacuation route in advance. Keep your cars fueled should evacuation be necessary. 

  Service stations may be inoperable in the event of electrical outages. Move your cars to higher 

  ground for protection.

   

  8. Store drinking water in clean bathtubs, jugs, bottles, and cooking utensils in the event that the 

  municipal water system is affected by the storm.

   

  9. Board up windows, or protect them with storm shutter or rope. Danger to small windows is 

  mainly from wind-driven debris. Larger windows may be broken by wind pressure. Tape 

  may not keep a window from breaking, but it is an effective means of protection from flying

  glass.

   

  10. Pets are not allowed in temporary shelters. During a flood evacuation, they will not be 

  accepted at evacuation shelters or allowed in the rescue vehicles or boats. Plan ahead for care 

  and protection of your pets; they are your responsibility. 

   

  11. If possible, seal off all sanitary sewer access points; such as sinks, toilets, floor drains, wash 

  basins which may be below flood water levels.

   

  EMERGENCY WARNING TERMS:

   

  A flood or hurricane “Watch” will be in effect if flooding or a hurricane is expected. Flooding is a 

  possibility, not a certainty. 

   

  A flood or hurricane “Warning” becomes effective when flooding is imminent.

  As the storm progresses, a flood or hurricane “Emergency” may be declared.

   

  School closing and early dismissal policies are determined by the Board of Education based on the 

  particular situation and disseminated using their Emergency Notification System.

   

  Remain indoors if you choose to remain at home.

   

  Keep children of all ages away from river banks and out of the floodwaters. Flood waters are usually 

  contaminated. Do not drive unless it is essential. Secure all loose objects outside the home, such as 

  outdoor furniture and toys. Relocate and/or move valuable and furniture (if possible) to higher areas in 

  your home. Move your automobiles to high ground if flood waters are a threat your area.

   

  WHEN YOU EVACUATE YOUR RESIDENCE:

  1. Shut off the gas, electric and water supplies at the main shut off in the house. Leave the 

  breaker on for the sump pump if you have one.

   

  2. Open basement windows to make provisions for water to enter the lower level of the house. 

  Water will also enter through a sump drain. The presence of water helps support the floors 

  and foundation walls from outside pressure and often prevents collapse.

   

  3. Keep your personal ID on your person at all times during the event. Take important insurance 

  policy information with phone numbers along with you in a plastic bag.

   

  4. Temporary emergency shelter locations will be announced prior to or during the flood event.

  If you leave your home and do not need public shelters, you still need to register at the 

  designated shelter locations so your whereabouts will be known.

   

  5. Pets will not be accepted at evacuation shelters or allowed in the rescue vehicles or boats. 

  Take steps to help your pets before an evacuation is imminent. 

   

  6. Emergency Personnel at location evacuation shelters will keep you informed of conditions and 

  will indicate when it is safe to return home. Do not attempt to return to your home without 

  clearance; you may hamper or interfere with rescue work. Temporary entry into storm 

  affected areas, until these areas are declared safe, maybe limited; for example, to a single 

  member of a family with proper identification.

   

  7. Never drive into water covering the road as depth is difficult to determine from the driver’s 

  seat and the road may be washed out. More than half of all people killed in floods are 

  those in vehicles. According to the National Weather Service, it only takes 18 inches of water 

  to lift your car or SUV. Once your vehicle becomes buoyant: the water will easily push it 

  sideways. Most vehicles will then tend to roll over, trapping those inside and washing them 

  downstream. If you are driving and the road has water over it, you need to remember this 

  simple saying: “Turn Around - Don’t Drown”. Never drive on a road with water covering it 

  and never drive around barriers blocking a flooded road or it just may cost you your life.

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Tools & Resources: FloodSmart.gov
The official site of National Flood Insurance Program