New Jersey is buying up at-risk homes to demolish them against flooding

New Jersey is looking for new ways to protect vulnerable areas from flooding and prevent further damage.

Four billion-dollar floods occurred in New Jersey between 1980 and 2024, accounting for about 2.1 percent of total disaster costs during that period.

This week the state announced additional funding for its Blue Acres program, which buys and demolishes homes in flood-prone areas.

Since its inception in 1995, the Blue Acres program has purchased approximately 1,200 homes, primarily in riverfront communities like Cranford that suffered severe flooding during Tropical Storm Ida in 2021.

What is the Blue Acres Program?

Founded in 1995, Blue Acres is part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) efforts to improve climate resiliency across the state.

All acquisitions are completed through a voluntary application process.

The acquisitions follow strict criteria and prioritize areas with repeated flood damage and overburdened communities.

Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement in January that it was “a priority to strengthen our state’s resilience to these storms” after rainstorms battered lakes, rivers and bays across the state.

He said there were plans to “address the painful cycle of repairing and rebuilding flood-prone homes after each flood event.”

Rebuilding smarter after Sandy

Blue Acres recently secured $3.5 million from the NJDEP and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to acquire additional properties.

Those efforts included demolishing hundreds of homes across the state and converting the land into open green spaces that serve as natural flood buffers.

Nick Angarone, NJDEP’s chief resilience officer, says acquisitions are “often the only way to ensure the safety and well-being of property owners by moving them out of harm’s way.”

Hurricane Sandy, which caused $30 billion in damages nationwide, was a catalyst for Blue Acres’ expansion.

Fawn McGee, director of the initiative, says the acquisitions allow communities to recover and adapt and seek housing where their safety is less at risk.

She told the Urban Land Institute forum that her focus is on “moving families out of harm’s way” while creating functional green spaces that provide long-term resiliency and recreational opportunities.

Residents will be compensated based on pre-flood market valuations, and relocation assistance will be offered to homeowners and renters. The state works with municipalities to integrate the acquisitions into broader community planning.

Port Monmouth Barrier Contract Approved

In another development, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this week announced a nearly $62 million contract to upgrade the Port Monmouth storm barrier in Middletown.

The project includes the construction of flood walls and dikes, the modernization of drainage systems and the integration of environmentally sustainable measures to protect local natural resources.

Middletown, located on Raritan Bay about 45 miles south of New York City, was heavily damaged during Sandy.

“This project began as a post-Sandy promise: to build back smarter, stronger and protect our communities from climate change,” Rep. Frank Pallone, a Democrat who represents the region, said in a statement.

“With this final phase, Port Monmouth will finally have the protection it needs going forward.”

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press.