As most residents of Somerset County, N.J., know, the Raritan River is prone to flooding after a heavy rain. But what some property owners might not know is where their property falls on a flood hazard map, better known as a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The property's location is what determines its eligibility for federal flood insurance as well as its risk of flooding.

On March 19 Somerset County residents and property owners will be able to ask questions and obtain information on their property's flood hazard risk at an Open House at the Somerset County Training Facility, 402 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough Township, N.J.

Representatives from the state, county, FEMA and their mapping partners will use interactive flood hazard maps to answer property owners' flood risk and insurance questions and explain the preliminary flood hazard maps. You're encouraged to bring your elevation certificates and flood insurance policies to the event to get the best information about how your flood insurance rates may change as a result of the new preliminary flood maps and legislative reforms.

  • If you think you may be in a flood zone, or already know you are, you should plan to attend the open house at any time between the hours of 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. There won't be a formal presentation and you don't need an appointment to speak with the representatives.
  • If you're not sure whether your property is in a flood zone, you can learn more about your flood risk and the updates shown on the preliminary flood hazard maps by entering your property's address in the base flood elevation tool on the Region II website.
  • If you can't attend or want to learn more about your flood risk, FEMA advises that you look at the Preliminary FIRMs, which are available on the FEMA Map Service Center website, call the FEMA Map Information eXchange (FMIX) at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or call your local flood plain administrator or building official.

FEMA notes that the Open House will cover flood hazard and FIRM map information only. No information will be available concerning outstanding insurance claims or disaster-related recovery efforts.

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