REMINDER: FEMA Flood Maps For Open House Is Today

Updated flood hazard maps for Ocean County have been released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Region II office.

But what do they mean for you and your flood insurance?

An open house on Wednesday, Feb. 25, will give residents an opportunity ask questions of state, county and FEMA representatives about how the flood hazard maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps, will impact them.

Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) identify areas that have flood risk in Ocean County. Insurance companies use FIRMs to determine flood insurance rates for buildings and their contents, and lenders utilize this information to determine flood insurance requirements.

There are two public Flood Risk Open Houses on the updates in Ocean County. The first is Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ocean County Government Complex Building 5 – Cafeteria, 129 Hooper Ave., Toms River. No appointment is required. The second is Thursday, 4 to 8 p.m., at the Ocean County Southern Service Center, 179 South Main Street, Manahawkin, NJ 08092.

Ocean County residents and property owners are encouraged to learn more about their flood rick and the updates shown on the preliminary flood hazard maps by looking up their property’s address in the “What’s my BFE” tool at www.region2coastal.com.

Residents are encouraged to bring their elevation certificates and/or flood insurance policies to the event in order to get the best information about how their flood insurance may change as a result of the new preliminary flood maps.

Please plant to attend this event if your property is currently mapped within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), newly mapped into an SFHA, and/or if you currently have flood insurance. If you are unsure of your flood risk, please refer to the Preliminary FIRMs which are available on the FEMA Map Service Center website,https://msc.fema.gov/portal, or call the FEMA Map Information Exchange (FMIX) at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or your local flood plain administrator or building official.

If you are in a high-risk flood zone, known as the SFHA, you may be required by your lender to carry flood insurance. FEMA staff will be available at the Open House to talk about these changes.

Information on disaster-related recovery efforts and outstanding insurance claims will not be available, officials said.

Flooding is the number one natural disaster in the United States. It is vital for property owners to understand their risk and taking advantage of tools and programs available to them. Property owners can take action by purchasing flood insurance and implementing mitigation actions to help reduce future flooding impacts.

The preliminary flood hazard maps that will be shared at the Open House are an update of the existing FIRMs. These preliminary FIRMs and the associated Flood Insurance Study (FIS) provide the basis for flood risk education and floodplain management measures. Ocean County is required to adopt updated maps to continue participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which makes flood insurance available to the community.

For additional Information on flood hazard risk and the mapping process, please visit www.region2coastal.com.