While the recovery from Superstorm Sandy continues, a new interactive mapping web site could help with the rebuilding process.

Hurricane Sandy flooding
Mario Tama, Getty Images
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NJ Flood Mapper is now online. It takes into account a number of risks, from sea level rise and flooding to changing weather patterns and conditions. The biggest fear right now from environmentalists is that if these types of issues aren't considered during the rebuild, the state could see the same type of destruction during the next huge storm. It would serve as an extra layer of security along with the flood base advisory maps from FEMA.

One of the developers is Rick Lathrop of Rutgers. He says FEMA's maps do not look at future changes from nature.

He explains, "Right now, sea level changes are pre-storm conditions and have not been updated. There are several areas that are particularly vulnerable along the coast and developers need to be extra careful. It's not the type of thing that can be rushed."

Lathrop and the other designers hope land use planners and emergency management agencies use the new maps.

The data and maps in this tool illustrate the scale of potential flooding, not the exact location, and do not account for erosion, subsidence, or future construction. Water levels are shown as they would appear during the highest high tides (excludes wind driven tides). The data, maps, and information provided should be used only as a screening-level tool for management decisions.

You can see the map for yourself online.

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