FEMA RISKS

Submitted by ub on

Under its Risk MAP Program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing quality flood hazard information to help communities plan for and reduce the risk from flooding. As part of that effort, FEMA Region II has initiated a coastal flood study to update the information shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for 14 coastal New Jersey counties and New York City. The FIRM shows each community's flood hazards and is a requirement for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The FIRM is used to determine who must buy flood insurance and where floodplain development regulations apply.

This website, which is updated as progress on the coastal flood study continues, will include links to the online preliminary FIRM panels (once completed), and details on public meetings to review those preliminary results. We encourage you to explore this website to learn more - be sure to check back regularly for updates, or sign up for our Twitter feed. In the meantime, there are steps that you can take now to keep your communities and families safe from flood risk:

Know your risk – Understand the risk of flooding in your area. View the most current flood hazard data available through the View Best Available Flood Hazard Data page.

Know your role – Understand the role you play when disaster strikes and how you can reduce the impact flooding has on you and your loved ones, your property, and your community. Visit Ready.gov (or Ready New York for New York residents) to learn about ways to get prepared and FloodSmart.gov for more information on flood risk and flood insurance.

Take action – Visit Ready.gov (or Ready New York for New York residents) to learn how to get prepared, and FEMA's Hurricane Sandy homepage for the latest information on available assistance and recovery initiatives. Use the information available through the View Best Available Flood Hazard Data page to make the most informed decisions for rebuilding and recovery.

http://www.fema.gov/