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Morris County Flood Mitigation Program Offers Options for Flood Prone Homeowners
Morris County Flood Mitigation Program, an initiative since 2012, offers a lifeline to homeowners repeatedly affected by floodwaters. Established following the devastation of Hurricane Irene in 2011, the program has since facilitated new beginnings for 86 homeowners across eight municipalities.
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ - In response to the catastrophic flooding unleashed by Hurricane Irene in August 2011, the Morris County Board of County Commissioners initiated the Morris County Flood Mitigation Program.
This program, a first-of-its-kind at the county level in New Jersey, collaborates with local municipalities and funding partners to relocate homeowners from high-risk flood areas.
Commissioner Stephen Shaw, liaison to the Flood Mitigation Committee, emphasizes the dual benefits of the program: safeguarding lives and property, and creating open spaces for future floodwater redirection.
Recent storms have brought the worst flooding Morris County has experienced since Hurricane Irene, with the National Weather Service reporting rainfall ranging from 4 to over 5 inches in parts of the county. This extreme weather led to widespread road closures, power outages, and residential flooding.
The Morris County Flood Mitigation Program complements state and federal mitigation efforts, filling in where other agency funds fall short. Its success and innovation have been recognized with awards such as the “Outstanding Floodplain Management Award” from the New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management and the “Environmental Excellence Award” from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.
Key components of the program include:
- The “CORE” program, covers up to 75% of acquisition costs for homes that do not qualify for other agency funding.
- The “MATCH” program, offers a 25% county match to bolster projects already supported by agencies like FEMA and NJDEP Blue Acres, thereby ensuring the completion of these acquisitions.
For detailed information on the Morris County Flood Mitigation Program, residents can visit Morris County Flood Mitigation or contact Program Coordinator Mike DiGiulio at the Morris County Office of Planning & Preservation.
