Eyes Wide Open…Or Shut?

Integrating Climate Risk

into Decision-Making

City of HobokenCity of Hoboken

Total land mass of 1.28 square milesTotal land mass of 1.28 square milesBordered on the west by the Palisade Cliffs; on Bordered on the west by the Palisade Cliffs; on the north by the Lincoln Tunnel; on the south by the north by the Lincoln Tunnel; on the south by the Holland Tunnel; and on the east by the the Holland Tunnel; and on the east by the Hudson RiverHudson RiverHome to 52,000 residentsHome to 52,000 residents80% of the city is in the SFHA80% of the city is in the SFHA1,800 homes were under-water during Hurricane 1,800 homes were under-water during Hurricane SandySandy175 identified as Sever Repetitive Loss 175 identified as Sever Repetitive Loss properties properties

City of HobokenCity of Hoboken

Incorporated in 1855Incorporated in 1855

Significant portion of the housing stock Significant portion of the housing stock dates back to the 1800s, early 1900sdates back to the 1800s, early 1900s

Attached row houses; 2-5 story single-Attached row houses; 2-5 story single-family and multi-family buildingsfamily and multi-family buildings

Elevating these structures is not an optionElevating these structures is not an option

City of HobokenCity of Hoboken

The city is subject to two types of flooding:The city is subject to two types of flooding: Storm surge – coastal inundation; andStorm surge – coastal inundation; and Ponding from sheet flow and storm sewer Ponding from sheet flow and storm sewer

overflowoverflow

26 CSO flooding events from 2002 to 201226 CSO flooding events from 2002 to 2012

Hoboken got lucky during Sandy…Hoboken got lucky during Sandy…

Climate RisksClimate Risks

Sea level rise will have an immediate and direct Sea level rise will have an immediate and direct effect on the number and severity of coastal effect on the number and severity of coastal flooding eventsflooding eventsWarming ocean temperatures are resulting in Warming ocean temperatures are resulting in more frequent, and more powerful stormsmore frequent, and more powerful stormsIncreased temps facilitate travel of hurricanes Increased temps facilitate travel of hurricanes and tropical storms with paths shifting further and tropical storms with paths shifting further northnorthThe northeast has becoming the new mid-The northeast has becoming the new mid-Atlantic regionAtlantic region

Getting Ahead of the CurveGetting Ahead of the Curve

In just 14 months, Hoboken was hit with 2 In just 14 months, Hoboken was hit with 2 events greater the a 1% chance floodevents greater the a 1% chance floodOther environmental conditions that increase Other environmental conditions that increase risk:risk: Aging infrastructureAging infrastructure High percentage of impervious coverHigh percentage of impervious cover High residential densityHigh residential density High percentage of at-risk populationsHigh percentage of at-risk populations Limited mobility outside of mass transitLimited mobility outside of mass transit Geographic and structural barriers to evacuationGeographic and structural barriers to evacuation

FEMA Base Flood Elevation is not forward FEMA Base Flood Elevation is not forward thinking enoughthinking enough

Getting Ahead of the CurveGetting Ahead of the Curve

Hoboken chose to adopt the FEMA Advisory Hoboken chose to adopt the FEMA Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) maps instead of Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) maps instead of the working maps or Preliminary FIRMs the working maps or Preliminary FIRMs because:because: The Preliminary FIRMs lowered flood elevation 1 to 2’ The Preliminary FIRMs lowered flood elevation 1 to 2’

compared to the ABFE Maps; andcompared to the ABFE Maps; and Reduced the boundaries of the floodplainReduced the boundaries of the floodplain

Added a Freeboard requirementAdded a Freeboard requirement Incremental requirement from 1 to 3’ depending on Incremental requirement from 1 to 3’ depending on

useuse

Restricted the use of fill for all new constructionRestricted the use of fill for all new constructionAdded a definitive restriction on buildings on Added a definitive restriction on buildings on piers and platforms in the V-zonepiers and platforms in the V-zone

Next StepsNext Steps

City will pursue structural flood mitigation City will pursue structural flood mitigation measuresmeasures Integrated flood walls and gates to prevent storm Integrated flood walls and gates to prevent storm

surge inundation;surge inundation; Additional wet weather pumps to evacuate water from Additional wet weather pumps to evacuate water from

the CSO during rain and coastal flooding events;the CSO during rain and coastal flooding events; Elevation of critical facilities where possible; i.e. Elevation of critical facilities where possible; i.e.

electrical sub-stationselectrical sub-stations Hardening of critical facilities that cannot be elevated; Hardening of critical facilities that cannot be elevated;

generators, multi-source power grid, communications generators, multi-source power grid, communications infrastructureinfrastructure

Next StepsNext Steps

Develop and adopt design specifications for:Develop and adopt design specifications for: Construction materials and methods; Construction materials and methods; Back flow prevention;Back flow prevention; Back up power / emergency generator requirements;Back up power / emergency generator requirements; Stormwater regulations; on-site detention and Stormwater regulations; on-site detention and

retention requirements; limitations on sewer tie-ins; retention requirements; limitations on sewer tie-ins; green-roof incentives; bio-swales and rain gardens; green-roof incentives; bio-swales and rain gardens; underground retention for delayed discharge;underground retention for delayed discharge;

Limits on impervious cover;Limits on impervious cover; Incentives for adaptation and voluntary Incentives for adaptation and voluntary

implementation of stormwater detention where not implementation of stormwater detention where not required.required.

Next StepsNext Steps

Update land use regulations to allow for:Update land use regulations to allow for: Transfer of occupancy; modify height Transfer of occupancy; modify height

restrictions to permit property owners to build restrictions to permit property owners to build up if they eliminate occupancy on floor(s) up if they eliminate occupancy on floor(s) below design flood elevationbelow design flood elevation

At-grade uses are currently restricted in At-grade uses are currently restricted in residential zones – need to amend zoning to residential zones – need to amend zoning to maintain an active streetscape and street life maintain an active streetscape and street life in a highly walk-able cityin a highly walk-able city

Next StepsNext Steps

Redevelopment Redevelopment planning with an eye planning with an eye to reducing floodingto reducing flooding Multi-purpose open Multi-purpose open

spacespace Green and sustainable Green and sustainable

buildingsbuildings Integrated net-positive Integrated net-positive

stormwater stormwater managementmanagement

Next StepsNext Steps

Work with State and Federal agencies to adopt Work with State and Federal agencies to adopt an urban strategyan urban strategy Alternatives to elevating buildings where elevation is Alternatives to elevating buildings where elevation is

not an option;not an option; Wet-proofing standards for residential and Wet-proofing standards for residential and

commercial uses;commercial uses; Dry-proofing standards for existing residential uses;Dry-proofing standards for existing residential uses; NFIP recognition of multi-family structures, vertical NFIP recognition of multi-family structures, vertical

and high density living, and garden apartments as and high density living, and garden apartments as principal dwellings;principal dwellings;

Relocation and elevation of utilitiesRelocation and elevation of utilities

Resiliency Planning; a Long-term Resiliency Planning; a Long-term ApproachApproach

Green Building and Sustainability Master PlanGreen Building and Sustainability Master PlanRebuild by Design; partnership with OMARebuild by Design; partnership with OMA

Resist - Delay – Store – DischargeResist - Delay – Store – Discharge

Green Infrastructure Strategic Plan; partnership with Green Infrastructure Strategic Plan; partnership with Together North JerseyTogether North Jersey

Detention – Infiltration – RetentionDetention – Infiltration – Retention

Energy Grid; partnership with Greener by DesignEnergy Grid; partnership with Greener by DesignPost Sandy Disaster Recovery Plan; partnership with Post Sandy Disaster Recovery Plan; partnership with Princeton HydroPrinceton Hydro

Strategic planning, Engineering, Capital Improvement StrategiesStrategic planning, Engineering, Capital Improvement Strategies Code updates, Design Standards Code updates, Design Standards Emergency management and operations planningEmergency management and operations planning

All Politics Are Local…All Politics Are Local…

Avoid election seasonAvoid election seasonRe-district to assure that all members of the governing Re-district to assure that all members of the governing body have constituents in the Special Flood Hazard Areabody have constituents in the Special Flood Hazard AreaKnow your numbersKnow your numbersGet the support and endorsement of your first Get the support and endorsement of your first responders: police, fire, OEM and CERT teamsresponders: police, fire, OEM and CERT teamsEnlist local residents who have suffered property Enlist local residents who have suffered property damage to lead the chargedamage to lead the chargeEnlist your early adapters; informed residents, local Enlist your early adapters; informed residents, local action groups, college and university studentsaction groups, college and university studentsDon’t give up; if at first you don’t succeed…Don’t give up; if at first you don’t succeed…