NJAFM at 20 Years: Celebrate the Past, Focus on the Futur
As we celebrate the 20th annual conference of the New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management (NJAFM), we take the opportunity to reflect on our past accomplishments and focus on the challenges that lie ahead. What started out as a meeting of a small group of people in a DEP conference room in 2004 has grown to an organization of more than 400 members, and recognition of NJAFM as one of the most accomplished state chapters of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM). In addition to making a difference here in New Jersey, NJAFM members have also contributed to significant advancement of floodplain management at the national level. With continued strong leadership and a foundation of devoted members, NJAFM is poised to maintain this important role for years to come.
The 2025 annual conference will highlight the evolution of NJAFM and the positive impact we have had on education, training, professional development and collaboration with public agencies throughout the state. The conference will promote core floodplain management principles: flood and storm hazard mitigation and resilience; enhancement of the natural/beneficial functions of coastal and riverine floodplains; and protection of people and property from the adverse impacts of floods and storms.
The 2025 annual conference will highlight the evolution of NJAFM and the positive impact we have had on education, training, professional development and collaboration with public agencies throughout the state. The conference will promote core floodplain management principles: flood and storm hazard mitigation and resilience; enhancement of the natural/beneficial functions of coastal and riverine floodplains; and protection of people and property from the adverse impacts of floods and storms.
Pre-Conference Activities and Training: Tuesday October 22, 2024
8:00 AM
Rich Einhorn Memorial Golf Outing
McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links, Egg Harbor Township*
8:00 AM
Rich Einhorn Memorial Golf Outing
McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links, Egg Harbor Township*
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Floodplain Management Basic Training*
Cleighton Smith, PE, CFM, Taylor Wiseman & Taylor
This training covers the background and history of the NFIP, roles and responsibilities, FEMA’s floodplain mapping program, how to read riverine and coastal maps, NFIP regulations, as well as higher standards, ordinance administration, permitting, Elevation Certificates, substantial damage/improvement, flood insurance, disaster opportunities and hazard mitigation.
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Floodplain Management for Building Code Officials
Michael Thulen, Jr, Building Code Official, Point Pleasant Beach Borough
Bob Burlew, Building Code Official, Eatontown Borough & Long Branch City
John Feidler, Building Code Official, Hillsborough Township
Building Code Officials in New Jersey have significant responsibilities enforcing municipal construction codes and floodplain ordinances. With new regulations, updated flood mapping and ongoing construction activities in New Jersey communities, Code Officials face mounting challenges in their day-to-day work. This training will provide up to date information regarding codes, standards and requirements, and substantial damage determinations, as well as suggestions on how to manage the ever-increasing work tasks that come with the job.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Workshop: Hazard Mitigation Project Application Screening
Chris Testa, NJOEM and Mike Sheehan, NJDEP
Do you have a potential flood hazard mitigation project that you need grant funding to support? Staff from NJOEM and NJDEP are available to discuss your project, funding needs, potential grant resources, regulatory compliance, and application guidance.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Cracker Barrel Consulting Session
(Open to all conference attendees, food and beverages provided)
Do you have questions about NJDEP or FEMA regulations and programs? Do you need a technical consult with floodplain management experts on mitigation funding, codes, permitting, mapping, floodproofing or other floodplain management topics? Do you have questions about flood mitigation products and services? Come to the Cracker Barrel Consulting session and speak directly with agency and industry representatives below to get answers and information.
- FEMA Risk Rating 2.0: FEMA & Risk Reduction Plus Group
- Flood Vents, Barriers & Floodproofing: Floodproofing.com
- Artificial Intelligence (Policy & Technology) & NJ PMP: AECOM
- Digital Floodplain Management: Forerunner
- Community Rating System: ISO/Verisk
- Substantial Damage Administration Procedures: FEMA
- Floodplain Management Audit: FEMA
- Inland Flood Hazard Rules & Permits: NJDEP
- NJ Model Code Coordinated Ordinance & Floodplain Permits: NJDEP
- NJ Coastal Resilience: NJ Coastal Resilience Collaborative & NJDEP
- State Property Acquisition Program: NJDEP
- Federal Grants: NJOEM
- AI Flood Prediction Tool: Stantec
- Best Available FEMA Data for NJ: NJDEP and ARC
- 2D Base Level Engineering (BLE): ARC
- Risk MAP Lifecycle: ARC
- FEMA FFRMS: What’s my DFE? Using Federal and State Toolsets: FEMA and T&M
- NJWB 100% PF Funding for Stormwater Solutions: Suburban Consulting Engineers
- Flood Risk Intelligence: True Flood Risk
Wednesday October 23, 2024
8:00 AM
Registration, Exhibits, Continental Breakfast
9:00 AM
Conference Welcome and Opening Remarks, Mike Graham, CFM and Mark Mauriello, NJAFM Conference Co-Chairs
9:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Plenary Session 1: The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC): A Regional Partnership for Water Resource Management
Today, nearly two million New Jerseyans live within the Delaware River Basin and another one million are served by water from the Basin. This session will highlight over sixty years of collaboration between Delaware River Basin Commission partners in New Jersey, with a focus on water resource management challenges including water supply planning and floodplain management. The DRBC is a federal/interstate agency created in 1961, marking the first time the federal government and a group of states joined together as equal partners in a river basin planning, development and regulatory agency. The five Commission members are the governors of Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, and the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ North Atlantic Division representing the federal government.
Steven J. Tambini, P.E., Executive Director, Delaware River Basin Commission
Michael L. Pisauro, Jr., Esq, Policy Director, The Watershed Institute
Adrian Leary, Chief of Planning, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District
Moderator: Elizabeth Koniers Brown, Director, External Affairs and Communications, Delaware River Basin Commission
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Conference Exhibits, Light Refreshments
11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Concurrent Technical Session 1
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
ASFPM Foundation Board Meeting (By Invite Only)
12:15 PM
Keynote Luncheon
NJAFM 2024 Conference Title Sponsor Remarks:
Karen Appell, PE, Vice President, AECOM New York Metro Climate Change Leader
Keynote Speaker: Jeff Albee, Vice President, Stantec Digital Consulting & Solutions
The world is changing at a rapid pace: technology, climate, development trends have all dramatically changed over the past 10 years. Even with all of the recent improvements in data collection and computing power, traditional flood models are still not accurately and reliably predicting the flood of risk today, let alone tomorrow. Join our Keynote speaker Jeff Albee, who is the Director of Digital Consulting & Solutions at Stantec, to learn more about how Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can provide new insights in flood prediction for more informed engineering and policy decisions.
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Concurrent Technical Session 2
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Conference Exhibits, Light Refreshments
3:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Plenary Session 2: Floodplain Management in the Era of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence: The ASFPM Larry Larsen Speaker Series
ASFPM Foundation is excited to partner with the New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management (NJAFM) again to host the Larry A. Larson Speaker Series (LLSS) at the 2024 NJAFM Annual Conference. This year's LLSS event will focus on applying artificial intelligence to improve flood risk mitigation and resilience. The event will bring together representatives of federal and local government and industry to participate in a panel discussion on the implications of AI in this field. Current efforts, including pilot studies in Monmouth County, will be presented and a Questions and Answers session will be held.
The LLSS intends to create opportunities for interaction among the nation's thought leaders regarding flood risk reduction policy. Events maximize timely exposure to relevant discussions and debates on community-based flood risk management, an area of policy and practice that was notably shaped and influenced by Larry Larson's life work. This series is intended to be of lasting benefit to foundation donors and event participants.
Whitney Singletary, Senior Manager, Cyber and Strategic Risk, Deloitte & Touche LLP
Joe Barris, CFM, Director, Division of Planning, County of Monmouth (NJ)
Curtis Smith, PE, CFM, Senior Associate, Stantec
Moderator: Scott Edelman, Senior Vice President, AECOM
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
NJAFM Social Networking Event and Scholarship Auction
Unwind after a busy day, reconnect and network with friends and colleagues, meet with some amazing exhibitors, enjoy complimentary food and beverages and participate in our renowned auction, with all proceeds devoted to NJAFM training, education and scholarships.
Thursday October 24, 2024
8:00 AM
Registration, Exhibits, Continental Breakfast
9:00 AM
Opening Comments: Chris Crane, PE, CFM, NJAFM Chair
9:15 AM
Plenary Session 3: Glen “Hurricane” Schwartz: This is Not the “New Normal” - Adapt to the Future, Not the Present
Rain and flooding (both inland and coastal) have become more severe. More moisture, stronger storms, slower-moving storms, plus continuing urbanization are the causes. Even with actions to reduce greenhouse gases, there is more warming “in the pipeline”. Air temperature, ocean temperature, sea level rise, and hurricane intensity, among other things, are not just increasing, but accelerating. Evidence of those accelerations will be presented, based on the latest studies, and methods to find (and even picture) what future flooding will look like in specific places will be shown. The following questions will be addressed:
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Conference Exhibits, Light Refreshments
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Concurrent Technical Session 3
12:15 PM - 2:00 PM
NJAFM Awards Luncheon
MC Joe Barris, CFM, NJAFM Executive Director
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Ethics Training for PEs, PLSs, PPs, CPWMs, CFMs (open to all attendees)
Engineering Ethics – The Reality
Robin A. Kemper PE, LEEDAP, ENV SP, F.SEI, Pres.19.ASCE
Come learn about 4 real life scenarios that will be used as case studies to discuss the ethics involved, or lack thereof, for each scenario.
Each case study will be presented via a video followed by group discussion:
Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) Exam Note:
The Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) Exam will not be offered as part of the annual conference this year, since ASFPM now requires that all exams be taken online. More information regarding the CFM exam registration and requirements can be found here:
https://www.floods.org/certification-program-cfm/
Concurrent Technical Session 2
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Conference Exhibits, Light Refreshments
3:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Plenary Session 2: Floodplain Management in the Era of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence: The ASFPM Larry Larsen Speaker Series
ASFPM Foundation is excited to partner with the New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management (NJAFM) again to host the Larry A. Larson Speaker Series (LLSS) at the 2024 NJAFM Annual Conference. This year's LLSS event will focus on applying artificial intelligence to improve flood risk mitigation and resilience. The event will bring together representatives of federal and local government and industry to participate in a panel discussion on the implications of AI in this field. Current efforts, including pilot studies in Monmouth County, will be presented and a Questions and Answers session will be held.
The LLSS intends to create opportunities for interaction among the nation's thought leaders regarding flood risk reduction policy. Events maximize timely exposure to relevant discussions and debates on community-based flood risk management, an area of policy and practice that was notably shaped and influenced by Larry Larson's life work. This series is intended to be of lasting benefit to foundation donors and event participants.
Whitney Singletary, Senior Manager, Cyber and Strategic Risk, Deloitte & Touche LLP
Joe Barris, CFM, Director, Division of Planning, County of Monmouth (NJ)
Curtis Smith, PE, CFM, Senior Associate, Stantec
Moderator: Scott Edelman, Senior Vice President, AECOM
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
NJAFM Social Networking Event and Scholarship Auction
Unwind after a busy day, reconnect and network with friends and colleagues, meet with some amazing exhibitors, enjoy complimentary food and beverages and participate in our renowned auction, with all proceeds devoted to NJAFM training, education and scholarships.
Thursday October 24, 2024
8:00 AM
Registration, Exhibits, Continental Breakfast
9:00 AM
Opening Comments: Chris Crane, PE, CFM, NJAFM Chair
9:15 AM
Plenary Session 3: Glen “Hurricane” Schwartz: This is Not the “New Normal” - Adapt to the Future, Not the Present
Rain and flooding (both inland and coastal) have become more severe. More moisture, stronger storms, slower-moving storms, plus continuing urbanization are the causes. Even with actions to reduce greenhouse gases, there is more warming “in the pipeline”. Air temperature, ocean temperature, sea level rise, and hurricane intensity, among other things, are not just increasing, but accelerating. Evidence of those accelerations will be presented, based on the latest studies, and methods to find (and even picture) what future flooding will look like in specific places will be shown. The following questions will be addressed:
- How much more rain, flooding, sea level rise and rapidly intensifying hurricanes do we need to plan for? By 2050? By 2075? By 2100?
- Most of today's children will still be alive by the end of the century. What kind of climate can they expect by then?
- Some countries have already reduced their "carbon footprint" to zero? Is this evidence that it can be accomplished worldwide?
- Is it even possible to dramatically slow down or even stop the warming (and the consequences of it)?
- Is it possible (or wise) to try to "fix" the climate by intentionally cutting down sunlight (or other changes) as an emergency effort to stop the warming?
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Conference Exhibits, Light Refreshments
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Concurrent Technical Session 3
12:15 PM - 2:00 PM
NJAFM Awards Luncheon
MC Joe Barris, CFM, NJAFM Executive Director
- FEMA Updates: William McDonnell, Director, Mitigation Division, FEMA Region 2
- NJAFM Awards
- NJAFM 2022-2023 Officer Election Results
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Ethics Training for PEs, PLSs, PPs, CPWMs, CFMs (open to all attendees)
Engineering Ethics – The Reality
Robin A. Kemper PE, LEEDAP, ENV SP, F.SEI, Pres.19.ASCE
Come learn about 4 real life scenarios that will be used as case studies to discuss the ethics involved, or lack thereof, for each scenario.
Each case study will be presented via a video followed by group discussion:
- Case Study 1: Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster
- Case Study 2: Piper Alpha
- Case Study 3: Spiro Agnew
- Case Study 4: Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse
Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) Exam Note:
The Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) Exam will not be offered as part of the annual conference this year, since ASFPM now requires that all exams be taken online. More information regarding the CFM exam registration and requirements can be found here:
https://www.floods.org/certification-program-cfm/