The Cities of Bayonne, Hoboken, Jersey, and Newark have all joined a regional effort to fight urban flooding, seeking input from residents, workers, and businesses.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Other stakeholders include the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Hudson County, Ironbound Community Corporation, HOPES Community Assistance Partnership and project consultant Arcadis and they will collectively be known as Resilient Northeastern New Jersey.
Their seeking to find solutions 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. 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,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
“The partnership we are 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,” began Arcadis project manager Carly Foster.
“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.”
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 and the final plan will delineate a path for implementation of these solutions in the future.
Additionally, community members will be able to follow the project’s progress on the various channels available for engagement.
Personally, I see this deal as a <> for the city, and another <> for the Bhalla administration: a resounding success! Is there anything this mayor can’t do? I mean, COVID. And just look to how he spoke with CNN – clearly America’s most-trusted news network – and MSNBC, another nonbiased gem. So so great.
Now then, all we need is to get the other communities to our East to join this regional effort…China and India.
But didn’t we ban plastic bags?