For Hurricane Sandy survivors who want to rebuild stronger, safer and smarter, knowing their risk of flooding is paramount. Property owners can find the data they need online in new advisory base flood elevation maps published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Advisory maps containing recommended building elevations are available for these counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union. To learn more, visit the following web sites:

•  (-- >Click here for the searchable map) 
• www.region2coastal.com/sandy/abfe to read more about the advisory map program.
• www.region2coastal.com/sandy/table to view recommendations for a specific address in the counties with advisory maps.
• www.region2coastal.com/site-news to subscribe to FEMA news about flood map updates.
• www.region2coastal.com/faqs for frequently asked questions about advisory maps.

Advisory maps show, based on the best available information, how high structures should be elevated   to minimize damage from future flood events.  The maps  show that portions of communities are in new flood zones, which may impact insurance rates and building practices.

• For information on federal flood insurance visit www.floodsmart.gov.You can also call 888-379-9531 or contact your insurance agent.
• FEMA provides flood insurance resources including publications and frequently asked questions online at www.fema.gov/nfip.

Communities are encouraged to adopt advisory base flood elevation maps to reduce future flood risk  and to decrease the cost of flood insurance. Property owners should work with local building officials   to fully understand all requirements – including advisory maps – to rebuild stronger, safer and smarter.

Contact your local officials if you have questions about advisory base flood elevation maps and how they affect you and your community.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. 

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

(Editor's Note: This was a press release from FEMA's Region 2 office)