New Jersey Coastal Coalition (NJCC)

PARTICIPANTS

Currently we have the following active Municipal and County participants: Atlantic City, Brigantine Beach, City of Pleasantville, Ventnor City, Margate City, Longport Borough, City of Linwood, Somers Point, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor Borough, Avalon Borough, Wildwood, City of North Wildwood, West Wildwood Borough, Wildwood Crest, Upper Township, Cape May City, Cape May Point, Commercial Township, Downe Township, Woodbridge Township, Bayhead, Berkeley Township, Borough of Beach Haven, Brick Township, Mantoloking, Point Pleasant Beach, Stafford Township, Township of Ocean (Waretown), Barnegat, Borough of Seaside Park, Lavallette, Neptune Township, Oceanport Boro, Middletown and Atlantic, Ocean and Monmouth County Governments.

Our associate participants are: The Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve, Stockton University Coastal Research Center, Stevens Institute of Technology, NJ Sea Grant Consortium, The Jersey Shore Partnership, the Insurance Council of New Jersey, the Barnegat Bay Partnership, and the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering. Federal and State agencies that attend include the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE- Philadelphia District), the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT). We have stakeholders that support our Multi-Jurisdictional Program for Public Information (MJPPI). They are: The Press of Atlantic City, South Jersey Gas, the Cape-May, NJ, Board of Realtors, Thomas Heist Insurance, OceanFirst Bank, Longport Media, and the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce among others.

The main mission is to help educate and guide local and county government, to help gain continuity as a New Jersey regional driving force. With that we mainly discuss constantly occurring flood issues and creative ways to mitigate them. Flooding at the Jersey Shore is a recurring problem due to various factors:

1. Geography: The Jersey Shore is prone to flooding due to its low-lying geography and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Storm surges and high tides exacerbate flooding during extreme weather events.

2. Sea Level Rise: Rising sea levels, attributed to climate change, increase the frequency and severity of flooding along the coastline. As sea levels continue to rise, even minor storms can cause significant inundation.

3. Storm Events: Hurricanes, nor'easters, and other intense storms frequently impact the Jersey Shore, leading to coastal flooding. These events can cause beach erosion, damage to infrastructure, and displacement of residents.

4. Development: Urbanization and coastal development have altered natural drainage patterns and increased impervious surfaces, reducing the land's ability to absorb water. This urbanization exacerbates flooding during heavy rainfall events.

5. Infrastructure: Aging stormwater infrastructure may not be equipped to handle increased runoff from development or extreme weather events, leading to localized flooding in urban areas.

Through NJCC conversations, addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach. Topics include coastal management strategies, infrastructure improvements, land-use planning, and climate change mitigation efforts to reduce the impacts of flooding on the Jersey Shore communities.

NJCC focuses on outreach efforts to help with the following:

• Awareness: Many people may not fully understand the risks and consequences associated with flooding. Public outreach campaigns can raise awareness about the potential dangers of flooding, including property damage, personal safety risks, and long-term impacts on communities.
• Preparedness: Educating the public about flood risks empowers individuals and communities to take proactive measures to mitigate these risks. This can include actions such as creating emergency evacuation plans, securing flood insurance, and implementing flood-resistant building practices.
• Community Engagement: Public outreach fosters community engagement and involvement in flood risk reduction efforts. When residents are informed and engaged, they are more likely to participate in community planning processes, support flood mitigation projects, and take steps to protect their properties and neighborhoods.
• Behavioral Change: Public outreach campaigns can encourage behavior change that reduces vulnerability to flooding. This may include promoting practices such as avoiding building in flood-prone areas, maintaining drainage systems, and limiting runoff from impervious surfaces.
• Resilience Building: By educating the public about flood risks and promoting adaptive measures, public outreach contributes to building community resilience. Resilient communities are better prepared to withstand and recover from flooding events, minimizing the social, economic, and environmental impacts.
• Policy Support: Public awareness and support are essential for the development and implementation of effective flood management policies and regulations. Public outreach efforts can help garner support for funding initiatives, infrastructure projects, and land-use planning measures aimed at reducing flood risk.

Overall, public outreach plays a vital role in enhancing flood resilience, promoting community preparedness, and fostering a culture of flood risk awareness and mitigation.

Check out this video! Also be sure to check our “Tidal Flooding Talk”, our weekly Internet show educating the public on flood awareness is co-hosted by Dan Skeldon and Palma Accardi and is sponsored by The Irish Pub of Atlantic City.

What is the Community Rating System ?

Overall, the FEMA CRS program promotes flood risk reduction, insurance affordability, community resilience, public awareness, and environmental protection in flood-prone areas. By participating in the CRS, communities can take proactive steps to mitigate flood risks and enhance their overall resilience to flooding and other natural hazards. The CRS incentivizes communities to implement floodplain management practices that reduce flood risk. By participating in the program and earning CRS credits, communities can improve their floodplain management capabilities, leading to reduced flood damage and enhanced public safety.

What does CAFRA mean for my community ?

CAFRA zones are important for protecting coastal ecosystems, reducing flood risks, preserving natural resources, promoting resilient communities, supporting recreational and tourism opportunities, and facilitating sustainable coastal management practices. CAFRA zones also help mitigate flood risks by regulating development in flood-prone coastal areas. By limiting construction in high-risk zones, CAFRA helps reduce property damage and the potential for loss of life during flooding events. By protecting coastal ecosystems and limiting development in high-risk areas, CAFRA zones contribute to the resilience of coastal communities. Preserving natural buffers like dunes and wetlands can help absorb storm surges, reduce erosion, and minimize the impacts of climate change on coastal infrastructure and residents. These zones facilitate long-term planning and management of coastal resources by requiring comprehensive reviews of proposed development projects. This helps ensure that development activities are compatible with environmental conservation goals and sustainable coastal management principles.

This map shows which areas (purple) are designated by the State Planning Office as areas of redevelopment. Some are downtowns , and many others are referred to as Centers , Cores and Nodes. The blue-gray portion is the CAFRA boundary. This boundary creates a second level of jurisdiction in the State of NJ. Otherwise meaning land developers have to meet required Stormwater Management regulations and environmental sensitive determinations. The blue dots represent where state tax dollars are funding flood related projects.

This video was recently taken in April of 2024 to show flooding issues along the Northern portions of the Jersey Shore. We're seeing a higher frequency of storms more often ,outside of hurricane season.

"Coastal flooding is not just a problem for the future; it's happening now, and it's happening with increasing frequency and severity." - Gina McCarthy

Here is another depiction of CAFRA Boundaries , but also includes NOAA Sea Level Rise testing center locations (red points). This map will continue to evolve and has plans of becoming an essential aspect of NJCC mapping information in the future.

Historic aerials can be immensely valuable for comparing Jersey Shore development over time by providing visual documentation of changes in land use, infrastructure, and natural features. Historic aerials can reveal the extent of urbanization along the Jersey Shore, showing how coastal communities have developed over time. Using this application can help visualize and document the expansion of residential, commercial, and industrial areas, as well as the construction of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and utilities. Historic aerials along the Jersey Shore document changes in the shoreline, including erosion, accretion, and coastal engineering projects. By analyzing shoreline positions over time, researchers can assess the effectiveness of coastal management strategies and predict future coastal dynamics.

This Web Application above provided information for Emergency and OEM services in case of a needed Hurricane Evacuation event. Effective flood evacuation routes contribute to community resilience by facilitating the safe evacuation of the population and minimizing the impacts of flooding. Likewise, a resilient population that is knowledgeable about flood risks, prepared to evacuate, and able to access evacuation routes enhances overall community resilience to flood hazards.

With the data used in this application , both flood evacuation routes and population are concerned with safety and protection from flooding hazards. Evacuation routes are designed to provide a safe pathway for residents to leave flood-prone areas quickly and efficiently, while the population relies on these routes to reach higher ground or designated shelters during flood events, thereby minimizing the risk of harm. Both flood evacuation routes and population are vulnerable to the impacts of flooding. Evacuation routes may become inundated or impassable during floods, posing challenges for safe evacuation. Similarly, the population residing in flood-prone areas faces the risk of property damage, displacement, and personal harm during flooding events.

Driving through floodwaters is highly discouraged due to several dangers:

• Risk of Drowning: Floodwaters can be deceptively deep, and it's challenging to gauge the depth from the surface. Even a small amount of water can sweep away a vehicle, leading to potential drowning of occupants.
• Loss of Control: Floodwaters can hide hazards such as debris, submerged objects, or uneven road surfaces. Driving through flooded areas increases the risk of losing control of the vehicle, which can result in accidents or getting stranded.
• Damage to Vehicle: Floodwaters can cause significant damage to vehicles by infiltrating sensitive components like the engine, transmission, and electrical systems. Repairing flood-damaged vehicles can be expensive and may not always be covered by insurance.
• Electrocution: Floodwaters may contain hidden electrical hazards, such as downed power lines or submerged electrical equipment. Driving through flooded areas increases the risk of electrocution, which can be fatal.
• Contamination: Floodwaters often carry pollutants, sewage, chemicals, and other hazardous materials. Contact with contaminated water can pose health risks to occupants and can lead to infections or illnesses.
• Legal Consequences: In many places, driving through floodwaters is illegal and can result in fines or penalties. Emergency services may also be burdened with rescue operations if vehicles become stranded.

Overall, it's safest to avoid driving through floodwaters altogether. Instead, find an alternate route or wait until the water recedes before proceeding. If you encounter flooded areas while driving, turn around and seek higher ground to ensure your safety.