What FEMA’s Advisory Flood Maps Mean for New Jersey

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The federal government has published maps showing the risk of flooding has worsened in New Jersey since it last gathered such data in the 1980s. That’s without taking into account projections that sea level will continue to rise at an accelerating rate.

The PATH station that many residents use to commute to Manhattan was severely flooded during Hurricane Sandy Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency released the map in December based on data gathered before Superstorm Sandy. It is an advisory to help property owners, builders and government agencies know where FEMA is headed. FEMA says it will unveil its official flood insurance map this year.

High-water marks in coastal areas from major storms, the kind expected once every 100 years, could be 1 to 5 feet higher than previously expected. The maps also expand the area where forceful waves are considered a risk.