Though Pleasantville is located inland from the barrier islands, portions of Pleasantville are at significant risk of flooding. The eastern and northern sections of the City are bordered by tidal waters. Northern Pleasantville is at risk of flooding from Conovers Creek, which is a tributary of Absecon Creek. The eastern section of Pleasantville north of the Expressway has large sections of marshland that are prone to flooding. Moreover, the section of the City south of the Expressway experiences tidal flooding from Lakes Bay east of South Main Street. Coastal flooding can be experienced due to storm surge and high tide events and will likely to be more pronounced as sea level rises. Even if your residence is not located on or near to the water, your home may still be at risk for flooding. Flood insurance is recommended for all structures in a coastal community.
Damage from flooding is not covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy. If you want insurance protection from flooding for your home, you will need to contact your insurance agent to find out what flood insurance policies are available to you. The maximum amount of coverage for a single-family unit is $250,000, with coverage for contents up to $100,000. Your flood insurance rate is based on a number of factors, but there are a number of steps that you can take to reduce your premium such as elevating your home or installing flood vents.
Your risk of flood hazard is most easily determined by its location on a Flood Insurance Rate Map. Flood maps created by FEMA take various factors into consideration (such as elevation and proximity to the water) in determining what areas are most vulnerable to floods for flood insurance purposes. You can see what flood zone you are in by clicking here: https://msc.fema.gov/portal
Upon clicking the link, type in your address and click the search button. You will be brought to a page that shows your property on a Locator Map and indicates the number and date of the most recent effective flood map. Click the button with the blue magnifying glass that reads “View/Print FIRM”. This will open a new tab or window with a copy of the most recent effective flood map, and you can discern your home’s flood zone based on the map. If it is within the dark shaded region, your home is within the SFHA and flood insurance is required if you have a federally-backed mortgage. The dark shaded area will also have a corresponding elevation, indicated by “EL 9” or “EL 10”. This indicates the height of the base flood (in feet).
If your home is located in a region marked “Zone B”, your home is located within the 500-Year Floodplain, and you may experience up to one foot of flooding during a 100-year storm. Though you are not required to purchase flood insurance, you may still be at risk for flood damage. If your home is located in “Zone C”, your home is located outside of the 500-Year and the 100-Year floodplain. Note that placement within “Zone C” does not mean that there is no chance of flood damage or that your property will not be at a significant risk for flood damage in the future. Local drainage conditions and sea level rise may create flood conditions or the possibility for flood damage that may not be accounted for by flood maps.
The City’s Building and Zoning Office is available to assist you in determining whether your property is in the Special Flood Hazard Area. They can be contacted during normal business hours here:
Kevin Cain
Construction Official/Zoning Officer
Telephone - 609.484.3614
Fax - 609.677.4806
Because the existing flood maps for Pleasantville and many other communities are about three decades old, FEMA has undertaken a new flood insurance study to determine whether there should be changes in flood zones. The preliminary results for this study have been published but have not yet been declared effective. These flood maps are based on the most recent data, and may demonstrate a more accurate indicator of flood risk than the existing maps. The City Construction Official can also help determine where your property is located on the new flood maps. To see the data for yourself, click “Show ALL Products” on the Map Service Center search results page. Each map panel under “Preliminary Products” represents a different area of Atlantic County. Map panels that include portions of Pleasantville are: 34001C0317F, 34001C0318F, 34001C0319F, 34001C0336F, 34001C0338F, and 34001C0432F.
Flood insurance can only be purchased through an insurance agent. FloodSmart.gov offers a free tool to help you find an insurance agent here: https://www.floodsmart.gov/why/why-buy-flood-insurance
Note that there will be a 30-day waiting period (with few exceptions) for new policies, so don’t wait until the next big storm is forecasted to purchase your flood insurance!
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