Resilience planning in Medford

January 7th, 2020 by Tanya Rohrbach

Climate change is here. It has already contributed to more severe flooding from increased precipitation and sea level rise, posing an immediate challenge to municipalities located in low-lying floodplains.

Medford, NJ is addressing the problem head-on. As part of New Jersey Future’s Community Rating System (CRS) planning assistance program, the town met with NJF’s planning team on Dec. 19 to begin the process of becoming a CRS community. The Medford Township Council deliberated and ultimately adopted a resolution to pursue the CRS project. NJF is providing the necessary strategic planning to assess and organize Medford’s application to the CRS program.

CRS is a program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that reduce the risk of flood damage. Benefits of participating in CRS include discounted flood insurance rates, enhanced public safety and flood awareness, reduced property and infrastructure damage, better stormwater control, and increased recreation opportunities.

Would your community benefit from CRS participation? Learn how New Jersey Future can help.

Funding for the Community Rating System to Preserve Floodplains project was supported through the Open Space Institute’s Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund which is made possible with funding from the William Penn Foundation