Middlesex County Launches Southern Middlesex Flood Mitigation and Resiliency Study

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ - Middlesex County recently launched the Southern Middlesex Flood Mitigation and Resiliency Study, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant-funded regional initiative aimed at better understanding and developing strategies and mitigation measures to improve flood resilience across ten municipalities in Southern Middlesex County. The goal of this study is to help the region work together to better understand flood risk and strengthen flood resilience - helping communities prepare for flooding, respond when it happens, and recover in ways that minimize damage to people, property, the environment, and the local economy.

The study draws on local, state, and federal resources, along with community input, to understand where flooding is occurring today, where it's having the biggest impact, where it's likely to worsen, and how it affects neighborhoods, roadways, businesses, and critical infrastructure. It will culminate in a Regional Flood Resilience and Adaptation Plan that outlines priorities, identifies mitigation projects, and recommends strategies that municipalities across the study area can use to reduce long-term flood risk.

"Flooding is one of the most frequent, damaging natural hazards facing communities in Central New Jersey," said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. "In fact, flooding was identified as one of the leading hazards in the County's All-Hazards Mitigation Plan. To address this, we launched the Southern Middlesex County Flood Mitigation and Resilience Project to further research the severe impact flooding has on our municipalities and develop plans to strengthen our flood prevention strategies."

"Flooding continues to impact our neighborhoods, transportation networks, businesses, and critical infrastructure, creating significant challenges for residents and municipalities throughout the region," said Middlesex County Commissioner and Chair of the Transportation Committee Charles Kenny. "Through a collaborative, data-driven approach informed by community input, this study will help us better understand vulnerabilities, prioritize mitigation strategies, and advance long-term solutions that enhance resiliency and reduce future flood risk in our communities."

The ten municipalities included in the study are Cranbury, Plainsboro, Monroe, Jamesburg, Helmetta, South Brunswick, Spotswood, East Brunswick, Milltown, and North Brunswick. The study launched in February 2026 and is expected to conclude in Fall 2027.

Residents located in southern Middlesex County are encouraged to share their input on flooding in their neighborhoods through the project website at middlesexcountynj.gov/floodstudy.

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