“Resilient NJ is a municipal assistance program led by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) that provides technical assistance and funding to support  local climate resilience planning in close partnership with municipalities. The Resilient NJ program worked with Ocean Township to integrate climate change into its land use planning processes and take action to strengthen resilience to climate change-related natural hazards including flooding, extreme heat, and wildfires.

Ocean Township’s Resilience Action Plan was released in December 2023, and the Township is now working with NJDEP and engineers and planners from Arcadis to implement priority recommendations from the Action Plan.

How is Ocean Township preparing for climate change? 

The Resilience Action Plan released in 2023 identified 15 actions to address climate change-related hazards, including both infrastructure and regulatory recommendations. You can view the entire action plan here.

As the Township begins to implement these recommendations, efforts are focused on three priorities: mitigating flooding at Custer Drive, wildfire preparedness, and exploring updated bulkhead regulations. The Township is additionally working closely with the Environmental Committee to build a network of interested stakeholders in the community who can guide and support ongoing implementation efforts.

How will climate change impact Ocean Township?

As a coastal community adjacent to the Pine Barrens, Ocean Township is already experiencing wildfires and worsening flooding. The Township is uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In the future the best available science tells us that:

• Significant portions of the Township will be vulnerable to flooding during certain storms. For example, 29% residential homes are exposed to coastal flooding today, and that will grow to 45% in the 2100 timeframe.
• Wildfires will be more frequent, and potentially more severe. 
• Extremely hot days (greater than 95° F) will occur more frequently. 

A detailed vulnerability assessment was carried out as part of the Action Plan development process. You can view it on pages 8-32 in the Action Plan here.

How can residents learn more?

You can view the entire action plan here.

Stay tuned for additional updates specific to implementation efforts in the coming months. Please feel free to contact admin.sec@twpoceannj.gov, or call (609) 693-3302 ext. 238, if you have additional questions.”