Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy News, Updates, and Resources

News

Associated Press, 03/17/2013 - Dunes Vs. Property Rights in Storm-Battered NJ
Newsday, 03/17/2013 - Advice for the Sandy-slammed from LIers with raised homes
Times Union, 03/11/2013 - Anticipating the next superstorm
WNYC News, 03/06/2013 - After Sandy, Government Lends to Rebuild in Flood Zones
Federal Register, 03/05/2013 - Allocations, Common Application, Waivers, and Alternative Requirements for Grantees Receiving CDBG Disaster Recovery Funds in Response to Hurricane Sandy
Asbury Park Press, 02/22/2013 - Berginnis: Use maps in rebuilding Shore
Forbes, 02/07/2013 - Rethinking Our Place In A Post-Hurricane Sandy World
Star-Ledger, 02/06/2013 - 100 days after Sandy, a crippled Jersey Shore stutters back to life
New York Times, 02/05/2013 - U.S. to Release First Installment of $51 Billion in Hurricane Sandy Aid
NJ DEP, 02/05/2013 - MEDIA ADVISORY: FAQs on Post-Sandy Flood Elevation Standards
New York Times, 02/03/2013 - Cuomo Seeking Home Buyouts in Flood Zones

Show More News Stories

Huffington Post, 01/28/2013 - NYC Flood Zones: After Sandy, FEMA Revises Maps And Adds 35,000 Buildings
the Atlantic Cities, 01/25/2013 - Tough Talk from Cuomo: 'Maybe Mother Nature Doesn't Want You Here'
MyCentralJersey.com, 01/25/2013 - Christie unveils flood maps: Environmentalist, town take issue
State of New Jersey Press Release, 01/24/2013 - Governor Christie Outlines Regulations to Allow Residents and Businesses to Rebuild Faster, Stronger and Safer from Hurricane Sandy
Washington Post, 01/24/2013 - Sandy's final blow to Jersey shore: costly elevation now or exorbitant insurance costs later
Washington Post, 01/17/2013 - Sandy spurs Rockefeller plan to fight flooding
Associated Press, 01/16/2013 - A closer look at Sandy recovery aid package
Homeland Security Digital Library, 01/14/2013 - Preliminary Report on Improving the Strength and Resilience of New York State's Infrastructure
Property Casualty 360, 01/10/2013 - Models Miss Sandy Losses, Need Adjustment: Fitch
The Hill, 01/06/2013 - Obama signs $9.7B bill to pay flood insurance claims from Sandy
Asbury Park Press, 12/24/2012 - How greed and politics nearly destroyed the coast
New York Times, 12/21/2012 - On Ravaged Coastline, It's Rebuild Deliberately vs. Rebuild Now
Huffington Post, 12/11/2012 - Jersey Shore Development Failures Exposed By Hurricane Sandy
Long Branch-Eatontown Patch, 12/04/2012 - Before You Raise Your House, Read This
New York Times, 11/29/2012 - Post-Storm Cost May Force Many From Coast Life
New York Times, 11/29/2012 - End Federal Flood Insurance
Reuters, 11/27/2012 - New Jersey residents want shore rebuilt with strict standards: poll
New York Times, 11/24/2012 - Paying for Future Catastrophes
New York Times, 11/23/2012 - After Storm, Dry Floors Prove Value of Exceeding City Code
Huffington Post, 11/12/2012 - Hurricane Sandy Damage Amplified By Breakneck Development of Coast
Star-Ledger Editorial Board, 11/04/2012 - Editorial: Rebuild, carefully
Asbury Park Press, 11/02/2012 - Mauriello: We must rebuild wisely
Bloomberg Businessweek, 11/01/2012 - It's Global Warming, Stupid
Living on the Real World Blog, 10/31/2012 - Hurricane Sandy's Real Lesson...will we learn it?
The Washington Post, 10/31/2012 - In the wake of Hurricane Sandy
USA Today, 10/31/2012 - Towns in Sandy's path did little to prepare for floods
E&E Greenwire, 10/31/2012 - Scientists see extent of storm's damage linked to climate change
USA Today, 10/30/2012 - Insurers, property owners tally Sandy's damage
New York Times, 10/30/2012 - For Years, Warnings That It Could Happen Here
USA Today, 10/30/2012 - U.S. forecast's late arrival stirs weather tempest
CNBC, 10/30/2012 - Does New York Need a Redesign?
New York Times, 10/30/2012 - For Flood Victims, Another Blow Is Possible

Resources

4/04/2013 - Uniform Flood Risk Reduction Standard for Sandy Rebuilding Projects
4/02/2013 - FEMA - Mitigation Success Story in Sea Bright
12/07/2012 - Executive Order Establishing The Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force
FEMA Building Science Hurricane Sandy website
FEMA Building Science Resources to Assist with Reconstruction after Hurricane Sandy
FEMA Snow Load Safety Guidance
FEMA Building Science Trainings and Workshops

ASFPM and ASFPM Chapter Activities

02/14/2013 - RIFMA and ASFPM Post-Sandy Workshop: Coastal No Adverse Impact (NAI) Approach to Recovery and Legal Issues for Rhode Island Local Officials to be held March 15, 2013
02/11/2013 - Rebuilding After Sandy - Testimony by Mark Mauriello for Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Hearing
01/08/2013 - ASFPM Letter to House urges need for mitigation to be part of any Sandy supplemental appropriations package
12/19/2012 - ASFPM Letter to House supporting Sandy supplemental appropriations bill as released by the Senate Appropriations Committee
12/13/2012 - ASFPM Releases Hurricane Sandy Recovery Actions - Using Mitigation to Rebuild Safer and More Sustainable Communities
12/12/2012 - ASFPM Press Release -ASFPM responds to the President's request for supplemental appropriations for Hurricane Sandy
11/27/2012 - New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management Letter of Support for FEMA's Efforts to Develop Advisory Flood Hazard Information
11/26/2012 - ASFPM supports FEMA's efforts to develop advisory flood hazards information.
10/31/2012 - ASFPM Press Release - Floodplain Managers Urge Resilient Rebuilding from Sandy

ASFPM is compiling a listing of ASFPM members and Certified Floodplain Managers interested in volunteering to assist communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Please see this page for more information.

Natural Hazards Center has issued a special call for Hurricane Sandy-related Quick Response Grant proposals. Proposals are due by February 15, 2013 - read more here.

03/26/2013 - For Immediate Release - State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Christie Administration Files Rule Package Establishing New Elevation Standard for New Jersey : Action Uses Latest FEMA Elevation Standards to Ensure Resiliency in Future Storms and Protect Residents from Rising Flood Insurance Costs

For Our Members:

The ASFPM Executive Office continues to monitor response and early recovery efforts in support of our members and mission. State Floodplain Managers, Hazard Mitigation Officers, and other state officials actively engaged in disaster response and recovery are encouraged to continue to coordinate closely with each other and to contact ASFPM if we can be of assistance in any way. We also welcome those taking action to alert us to appropriate media coverage on your efforts.

All ASFPM members are invited to participate in the ongoing dialogue through our Facebook and LinkedIn pages regarding Hurricane Sandy and related national policy, practices, and reforms to support effective floodplain and flood risk management in the aftermath of this disaster. We recommend that those on Twitter connect with other ASFPM members via use of #ASFPMSandy.

For Property Owners:

ASFPM urges those who experienced property damage and intend to repair or rebuild to be in immediate contact with their local floodplain administrator and building department. Inspections and assessments of damage must be conducted prior to rebuilding. This important step helps assure that property owners access needed technical assistance and that reconstruction complies with local permitting, codes, and standards.

Following disasters of this magnitude, funds may be available to help property owners rebuild their homes and businesses on higher ground or elevate to prevent damage in future floods, among other changes to ensure that the structure can better weather disasters in the future and reduce the misery and suffering that accompany these events. Programs through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) include the National Flood Insurance Program's Increased Cost of Compliance, which makes funds available to support rebuilding higher and stronger if your structure is substantially damaged.

Additional Resources for Property Owners:

Delaware Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards

Flood Elevation FAQs: New Jersey's Emergency Flood Elevation Rule

Elevating Your Home Above Future Flooding

If Your Home or Business Has Been Flooded, What You Need to Know Brochure

Changes in the Flood Insurance Program - Preliminary Considerations for Rebuilding

Hurricane Sandy Advisory Base Flood Elevations - FEMA Fact Sheet

Homeowners Guide to Retrofitting (FEMA, P-312)
Provides "How-To" information and decision making tools for considering flood mitigation options of elevating, wet floodproofing, relocating, dry floodproofing, constructing small levees and floodwalls and demolishing homes.

Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage (FEMA, P-348)
Assists in the construction of buildings with building utility systems that are designed and built so that the buildings can be re-occupied and fully operational as soon as electricity and sewer and water are restored to the neighborhood

Flood Damage Reduction Measures Matrix (USACE-NFPC)
An initial assessment for selecting the appropriate Flood Damage Reduction measures for site specific criteria.

Flood Proofing: How to Evaluate your Options (USACE-NFPC)
A layperson's guide to evaluating and selecting flood proofing alternatives including simplified damage, cost, and performance analyses.

Federal Emergency Management Agency
Access Disaster Help and Resources
Find Your State Floodplain Manager
Find Your State Hazard Mitigation Officer

Resources for Local Officials:

Local officials in Sandy affected areas have two state resource agencies they should utilize. The State Floodplain Manager (also called the state NFIP Coordinator) oversees overall implementation of the National Flood Insurance Program and community floodplain management regulations. The State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO) is the entity that oversees the implementation of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) after a major disaster and can provide information on availability of HMGP funds. Click here to find your State Floodplain Manager and click here to find your State Hazard Mitigation Officer and the resources available through their respective offices.

Addressing your Community's Flood Problems: A Guide for Elected Officials (ASFPM) [.pdf]
This publication from the mid-1990s is still relevant today. It explains basic concepts of floodplains and floodplain management, as well as framing arguments and issues related to flooding that are especially useful for elected officials. Includes mitigation success stories and a checklist for addressing a community's flood problems.
Coastal No Adverse Impact Handbook (ASFPM)
The handbook introduces local officials and concerned citizens to No Adverse Impact (NAI) concepts, and suggests how a coastal community can use the NAI approach to minimize flood risks and maximize the benefits of their coastal environments.
Digital Coast Website (NOAA)
Created by the Digital Coast Partnership and maintained by NOAA, this website provides a wealth of geospatial resources for coastal communities to assist in recovery/redevelopment planning and policies. Includes many tools including: a coastal inundation toolkit, a sea level rise viewer, coastal county snapshots, and land cover atlas.
A Guide for Higher Standards in Floodplain Management (ASFPM Regulations Committee) [.pdf]
This guidebook provides options for communities that wish to implement floodplain regulations that exceed NFIP minimums, reduce flood damage, and reduce overall impacts of floods. Twenty-five common higher standards are described and model regulatory language is provided. Several standards are specific to coastal areas.
Substantial Damage Estimator (FEMA)

Version 2.0 of this product was released November, 2012 and was developed by FEMA as a tool to assist local officials in determining substantial damage of any flood impacted residential and non-residential structures for proposes of meeting local floodplain management regulations.
Substantial Improvement/ Substantial Damage Desk Reference (FEMA)
This document provides practical guidance and suggested procedures to implement the NFIP requirements for Substantial Damage and Substantial Improvement.
Benefit-Cost Analysis Tool (FEMA)
In September of 2012, FEMA released Version 4.8 of this tool. The tool is used to perform benefit cost analysis for flood mitigation applications submitted under FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Version 4.8 Download
Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction (FEMA 421)
This FEMA publication, developed in partnership with the American Planning Association, introduces community planners to policies for rebuilding and recovery after disasters and provides guidance on how to plan for post-disaster reconstruction.

Link to Chapters 3-5 only

As recovery and clean up begins along much of the East Coast, we know that people across the country are asking what they can do to offer to aid their fellow Americans. For more information, check out this volunteering resource page from FEMA.