No Word on Timing for South End Replenishment, Flood Maps

There's still no set date for when updated flood maps will be released for Cape May County residents, the commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection said Thursday.

Likewise, no timeline has been set for the start of a beach replenishment project at Ocean City's south end.

In a conference call with reporters Thursday, DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said the Federal Emergency Management Agency is still working on preliminary flood elevation maps for Cape May County residents.

"My understanding is that these maps will be coming out in the next month or so," said Martin.

Last month, flood maps were released for other areas of New Jersey, including Ocean County. There, tens of thousands of residents who were placed in high-risk 'V,' or velocity zones, were removed and transferred to 'A' zones.

Residents in 'V' zones must use piling foundations to raise their homes instead of block foundations. Piling foundations come with a significantly higher cost, but can sustain actively breaking waves. Flood insurance rates are also higher in 'V' zones.

Likewise, Martin said the federal government has not set a timeline for a beach and dune replenishment project for Ocean City's south end beaches.

"We're still working on the schedule for the beaches at this point in time," said Martin. "Any dates right now would be premature as to when we're going to get to that beach."

As the city waits for replenishment, an outside contractor, South State, Inc., of Bridgeton, was paid $1.1 million to haul 90,000 cubic yards of new sand to the southern beaches between 49th Street and 57th Street. That work was completed before Memorial Day Weekend.

"We've worked with the town, as with other towns," said Martin. "If they need sand, we'll pay for it and get them additional sand to protect the beaches and build up a temporary dune on the beaches as necessary. That's what we're doing in the short-run."

A $68 million beach replenishment project which would cover the area from 34th Street to 59th Street in Ocean City and include Strathmere and Sea Isle City has been approved by the federal government and would be funded through a Superstorm Sandy aid package. It was included on a list of authorized projects the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has submitted to Congress for 2013.

The city still needs about 100 easements, primarily in the area between 24th and 40th streets, City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said earlier this month. She said the city is planning an informational meeting with a date to be announced soon, and she said the easement area is seaward of the bulkhead.