Date : Wed, Aug 7, 2013 at 5:05 PM
Future Storms To:
For Immediate Release
August 7, 2013
Contact Jeff Tittel, 609-558-9100
Bill Signed Making it Easier to Elevate Structures for Future Storms
Today the Governor signed A3890 (Eustace). The law provides limited exemption from local land use restrictions to allow certain existing structures to be raised to new FEMA base flood elevations. FEMA's base flood elevation is elevated a structure for the 1% chance of a 100 year flood if structure is not elevated it is subjected to higher flood insurance premium. This law will help exempt structures who if elevated would be violating local height restrictions.
"Many times local zoning gets in the way of protecting people from flooding. This law is an important first step in helping people rebuild in a way that reduces the risk form storm surges and flooding. This will also help people save money on their flood insurance. We are glad the bill is signed," said Jeff Tittel, Director, NJ Sierra Club.
The New Jersey Sierra Club supports this law because we believe it is important to elevate structures above the flood levels in order to help protect people and property. This legislation will not prevent local zoning from preventing people from getting out of harm's way. The law allows for additional height at 2 feet above the flood hazard height for the property, saving property owners 50% on their flood insurance, which homeowners do not get with 1 foot. The FEMA maps do not take into consideration sea level or storm surges so by going two feet above will help give people a better margin of safety. This also makes sure people do not use this as an excuse to build high rises along the shore.