Today, Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla announced the City of Hoboken is joining the Resilient Northeastern New Jersey initiative to implement flood risk reduction strategies. Hoboken is joining a coalition of stakeholders including the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Jersey City, Newark, Bayonne, Hudson County, Ironbound Community Corporation, HOPES Community Action Partnership, Incorporated and project consultant Arcadis, which will seek to improve long-term regional environmental and economic resilience.
To ensure an equitable approach to resilience, the project team is seeking input, information, and recommendations from residents, workers, businesses, and organizations regarding their own experiences with flooding and storm events. Specifically, the Resilient Northeastern New Jersey initiative will work to address flooding from coastal storms, high tides, heavy precipitation, and overflowing riverbanks.
“As a coastal community, Hoboken knows first-hand the impacts of storm surge and heavy flooding events,” said Mayor Bhalla. “While we continue to make major strides in creating a more resilient city through our Rebuild by Design Project and comprehensive flood mitigation strategies, we are always striving to do more. The partnership we’re entering into with key stakeholders and cities through Resilient Northeastern New Jersey will allow Hoboken to take a regional approach to adopt other best practices, and also share our successes with other communities as well. I encourage residents to provide their input through the Resilient NJ website.”
Community members interested in sharing their perspectives, recommendations, and experiences can contact the team through a variety of channels including:
-Downloading the project’s app for your smart phone: IRYS
-Visiting the website at www.resilient.nj.gov/nenj
-Engaging on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @ResilientNENJ
-Leaving voicemail feedback on the multilingual project hotline: 201-275-0861
-Participating in virtual public meetings and focus groups. Additional information is available on the project website, linked above.
“Anyone who lives or works in New Jersey has been, or knows someone who has been, affected by flooding. The people familiar with this area understand its strengths, limitations, and needs and are uniquely capable of helping identify what neighborhoods and streets are most susceptible to flooding. We are eager for input to make sure this plan effectively and impactfully protects these communities,” said Carly Foster, project manager for Arcadis.
The Resilient Northeastern New Jersey project is expected to be completed in May 2022. The project will be conducted in waves in order to account for public input at every point in its development. Input from residents of flood-prone areas will be integrated into a risk assessment to evaluate future risks to critical infrastructure and valued community facilities, which will give residents and workers the opportunity to contemplate the potential impacts of future flooding on their communities. Results of the risk assessment and public feedback will be used to develop potential solutions for addressing identified risks. The final plan will delineate a path for implementation of these solutions in the future. Community members will be able to follow the project’s progress on the various channels available for engagement.
About Resilient Northeastern New Jersey
Resilient Northeastern New Jersey is a partnership between NJDEP, Jersey City, Hoboken, Newark, Bayonne, Hudson County, Ironbound Community Corporation, and HOPES Community Assistance Partnership, and is supported by a team of consultants led by Arcadis. The partnership aims to build upon ongoing resilience work and provide a clear roadmap for ensuring long-term social, environmental, and economic vitality by reducing flood risk. Resilient Northeastern New Jersey is a collaboration between local and state government, community organizations, the public and other stakeholders. Additional information about the partnership and project can be found at www.resilient.nj.gov/nenj.
