FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT:
Introduction | What To Do If You Experience Flooding On Your Property
Community Rating System | Hackensack Meadowlands Floodplain Management Plan
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Introduction

The Meadowlands District has a long history of flooding issues that have plagued the area for centuries. This is not surprising --  90 percent of the District is  two feet or less from the mean high-water mark and more than 5,000 homes and 2,000 businesses are within a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) special flood hazard area. During Tropical Storm Floyd, in September 1999, flooding within the District forced the evacuation of 410 people and displaced another 3,764.

Flooding in the District often results from a combination of factors: heavy rain that causes stormwater overflows, tidal surges from the Hackensack River and limited remaining open space, which functions as a natural detention and filtration system for flood water. While the Meadowlands Commission cannot stop flooding within the District, the Commission is involved in a wide-range of flood-control efforts to reduce the impact on the region’s residents, business and commuters.

Unlike the band-aid solutions of the past, the NJMC recognizes that floodplain management is best addressed on a regional basis, through sensible land use and education. The Commission has also invested more than $10 million in flood-control infrastructure since 2003 alone, with projects ranging from a $5.5 million project to reduce flooding on Route 17, near the Rutherford/East Rutherford border, to direct grants that District Municipalities with stormwater concerns. The Commission also maintains a vehicle pool with heavy equipment that can help local communities identify and clear sewer and storm drain problems; these vehicles are available to District Municipalities 24/7 and free of charge.

The results of these flood control efforts are encouraging. The work on Route 17 has reduced road closures due to flooding and the NJMC’s work on District-wide floodplain management and its participation in FEMA’s Community Rating System program have helped District property owners become eligible for a 15 percent discount from FEMA on their flood insurance premiums.

To learn more about the NJMC’s Rt. 17 project click here.