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  • The collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels or suddenly caused by an unusually high water level in a natural body of water, accompanied by a severe storm, or by an unanticipated force of nature, such as flash flood or an abnormal tidal surge, or by some similarly unusual and unforeseeable event which results in flooding as defined in paragraph (a)(1) of this definition.
  • FLOOD HAZARD AREA DESIGN FLOOD ELEVATION – Per the FHACA, the peak water surface elevation that will occur in a water during the flood hazard area design flood. This elevation is determined via available flood mapping adopted by the State, flood mapping published by FEMA (including effective flood mapping dated on or after January 31, 1980, or any more recent advisory, preliminary, or pending flood mapping; whichever results in higher flood elevations, wider floodway limits, greater flow rates, or indicates a change from an A zone to a V zone or coastal A zone), approximation, or calculation pursuant to the Flood Hazard Area Control Act Rules at N.J.A.C. 7:13-3.1 – 3.6 and is typically higher than FEMA’s base flood elevation. A water that has a drainage area measuring less than 50 acres does not possess, and is not assigned, a flood hazard area design flood elevation.

FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM) – The official map on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has delineated both the areas of special flood hazards and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.

FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY (FIS) – The official report in which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided flood profiles, as well as the Flood Insurance Rate Map(s) and the water surface elevation of the base flood.

FLOODPLAIN OR FLOOD PRONE AREA – Any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source. See "Flood or flooding."

FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS – Zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, building codes, health regulations, special purpose ordinances (such as a floodplain ordinance, grading ordinance, and erosion control ordinance) and other applications of police power. The term describes such State or local regulations, in any combination thereof, which provide standards for the purpose of flood damage prevention and reduction.

FLOODPROOFING – Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes, or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures, and their contents.

FLOODPROOFING CERTIFICATE – Certification by a licensed design professional that the design and methods of construction for floodproofing a non-residential structure are in accordance with accepted standards of practice to a proposed height above the structure’s lowest adjacent grade that meets or exceeds the Local Design Flood Elevation. A completed floodproofing certificate is required at permit application.

FLOODWAY – The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than 0.2 foot.

FREEBOARD – A factor of safety usually expressed in feet above a flood level for purposes of floodplain management. “Freeboard” tends to compensate for the many unknown factors that could contribute to flood heights greater than the height calculated for a selected size flood and floodway conditions, such as wave action, bridge openings, and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed.

FUNCTIONALLY DEPENDENT USE – A use that cannot perform its intended purpose unless it is located or carried out in close proximity to water, including only docking facilities, port facilities necessary for the loading or unloading of cargo or