Sen. Menendez Calls On FEMA To Expedite The Release Of Updated “Working Maps”

New maps could have smaller “V-Zones,” make it more affordable for residents to keep their homes

During a news conference in a Hoboken neighborhood that had significant flooding following Superstorm Sandy, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez said the Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) maps released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were “significantly flawed” because they did not incorporate wave analysis as they were created.

Senator Menendez called upon FEMA to expedite the release of new “working maps” that would use wave analysis, correcting potential errors that have created worry for residents about the affordability of staying in their homes.

Below are Senator Menendez’s remarks on the issue:
“Now, while I believe we need to be realistic about future flooding risk, we should do so without putting any unnecessary burdens on families and small businesses. Like many people in New Jersey, I believe FEMA’s Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) maps were fundamentally flawed because they didn’t use comprehensive wave analysis to determine “V-Zone” boundaries.
The next set of maps, known as “working maps,” will use the full wave analysis and as a result, I believe, will show significantly smaller “V-Zone” areas than the ABFEs.
And this isn’t just an academic issue. The difference between being in a V-Zone or not, could be the difference between being able to afford to stay in your home or not.
With the stakes so high, I’m calling on FEMA to expedite the release of the updated working maps and to provide technical assistance to towns and homeowners so they can understand their risk and better prepare for it.”