For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jackie Greger, Jackie.Greger@sierraclub.org
NJ Aims to Weaken Life-Saving Flooding Rules Despite Devastating Storms
New Jersey Must Adopt Strong NJ PACT REAL Coastal Flood Rules
Yesterday evening, New Jersey was pummeled with rain, causing flash flooding in several areas, including North Plainfield and Somerset County, where roads turned into fast-flowing rivers. Several towns in Somerset County received over 6 inches of rain just overnight and, so far, there are two reported fatalities. Residents used anything and everything, like ladders from their garage, to help save people trapped in their cars. Governor Murphy announced a State of Emergency around 7:30 pm. However, it was too late, as travelers were faced with major rainfall, and commuters driving home from work were trapped on the NJ Turnpike as flooding waters continued to rise.
Ironically, it was also yesterday when the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced substantial new amendments to the NJ Resilient Environments and Landscapes (NJ REAL) rules that were subject to be adopted by August. The amendments, due to pushback from the business community and coastal municipalities, decrease the height at which coastal development needs to be built from 5ft of elevation to 4ft above the FEMA base flood elevation. Municipality officials say coastal communities are comfortable with a higher level of risk associated with this decrease in elevation.
Anjuli Ramos-Busot, New Jersey Director of the Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“Yesterday is no longer a wake-up call, it is a slap in our face. In addition to the devastating floods across the country, like what we saw in Texas’ deadly flooding, New Mexico, and North Carolina, last night, we got hit at home, yet again. New Jersey is positioned to implement the NJ PACT REAL Rules, life-saving rules that will prepare and protect us from exactly what just happened yesterday, but ironically, just yesterday the state announced its weakening of the rules to “meet people where they are.” Unfortunately, self-interested developers and business representatives have not only delayed but are trying to weaken these rules, and are still complaining about the amendments not being weakened even further. The NJ PACT REAL rules must be the strongest they can be, or else we will continue to see more damage, devastation, and loss of life.
“What is the point of meeting people where they are if there is no FEMA funding to help support people who have lost their homes, businesses, and livelihoods? What is the point if people actually lose their lives? It is the infrastructure that should meet us where we are, where climate change has brought us. This puts the burden of rebuilding and paying for flood damages onto residents and working families, who can’t always afford the higher risk. We must adapt to our reality and stop denying what is right in front of us.
New Jersey is one of the most densely populated and overdeveloped states in the nation, which means storms impact us even harder. We need to adapt to the science of climate change, which means less building in flood-prone areas, elevating buildings that will keep up with sea level rise, protecting natural ecosystems like wetlands that mitigate flooding, and implementing smart growth practices. We need to meet our affordable housing goals safely; this type of housing should not be exempt from these life-saving rules and requirements. The more we delay, the less prepared we will be for the next storm.
The goal is to protect people and their homes and businesses, not the developers’ pockets by building one foot lower than what is meant to keep us safe.”
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About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information about our work in New Jersey, visit www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey.