As with Swan Creek, the Alexauken Creek floodplain back-flows from the Delaware River. The areas that is impacted includes the north most end of North Union Street and just north of and adjacent to Cherry Street.

Commercial and residential properties along Lambert Lane are directly flooded from the Delaware River. The area includes properties on the west side of Lambert Lane from Bridge Street to the north of the Coryell Street intersection.

Ely Creek is so locally named since the stream borders Ely Field at the base of Music Mountain. This stream has an origin along Route 179 and York Street, running down the hill and making a sharp bend near the intersection of York and Washington Streets and travels through a series of culverts and surface channels until it runs under the canal and discharges to Island Creek and the Delaware River. Due to the rise in the Delaware River during basin-wide events, the system back-floods and inundates the area bounded by the canal, Arnett Avenue and Cherry Street. The area has a combination of residential and commercial properties.

Swan Creek has had the most damage in recent floods due to the back-flooding from the Delaware River through the aqueduct that passes the Delaware and Raritan Canal. The area impacted is bounded by the canal to the west, Ferry Street to the north, South Main Street to the east and Mount Hope Street to the south.

For more information on local flood hazards contact the City of Lambertville Construction Office at (609) 397-0803 or [email protected]. The Floodplain Administrator/Construction Official can assist you in determining if your property lies within a flood hazard area, the base flood elevations (where applicable), and potential flood protection measures.

Flooding is a natural and inevitable process, but simple actions can reduce the safety risk for yourself and the community.

• Do not drive through a flooded area – A significant number of flood related fatalities occur from individuals attempting to drive in a flooded area.

• Do not walk through flowing water – Flood waters may have deceiving undercurrents.  Six inches of water may knock you off your feet.  Low areas may be concealed by floodwater.

• Stay away from power lines and electrical wires – Electrocution is the 2^nd leading cause of death during floods.  Turn off power at the service box prior to flooding if possible.  Water can carry electric current.

• Be alert to gas leaks – If you smell gas, report it immediately to your gas company and call 9-1-1 for assistance from the Lambertville Fire Department.

• Keep children away from the flood water, ditches, culverts and storm drains – Flood waters travel at a velocity greater than children may be able to see or understand.

• Clean everything that has been wet – Flood waters can contain raw waste, chemicals, bacteria.  It is important to disinfect all salvageable possessions that were inundated with floodwaters.

• Look out for animals – Flood waters can displace habitat and many animals may take refuge in your home, car, or other structures.

• Do not use gas engines, such as generators, or charcoal fires indoors during power outages – Carbon monoxide gas exhaust can pose serious health hazards and an indoor open fire can ignite many household materials.

There are number of measures that can reduce flood damage to a property or building:

• Mark your fuse or breaker box to show the circuits to the floodprone areas. Turning off power prior to flooding can reduce property damage and save lives.

• Consider elevating your home above flood levels.

• Elevate or protect your HVAC unit, ductwork, or plumbing.  The savings could be significant if you consider that the unit would not have to be cleaned or replaced after the next flood.

• Check your structure for water entry points. These can be basement windows, doors, or dryer vents. These openings can be protected with low walls or temporary shields to be installed before rainfall and flood events. Certain areas of your house may be more appropriate for storage or placement of your home equipment and personal items.  Elevate equipment (washing machines and dryers) and stored household items.

• Install a floor drain plug, standpipe, overhead sewer, or sewer check valve to prevent sewer backup flooding.Loss of power may mean that your sump pump will not function when most needed.  Consider purchasing a battery backup.  Or if connected to public water, consider a water powered sump pump backup that supersede the need for electricity.

Note that some flood protection measures may need a building permit and others may not be safe for your building, so be sure to contact the Lambertville City Construction Office at (609) 397-0803 before beginning retrofit projects.

The City of Lambertville strives to reduce the risk through monitoring weather predictions and forecasted levels of the Delaware River and relaying this to residents.  Residents are encouraged to pay attention to media sources and sign up for e-mail alerts to receive updates on the potential flood threat in Lambertville City at www.lambertvillenj.org. Also, if needed, both the City of Lambertville and Hunterdon County have reverse 911 systems for emergency notifications and we ask you to listen carefully to the message and take the directed actions. 

All development within the 100-year floodplain needs to obtain a permit from the City of Lambertville.  This includes any fences, filling, excavation, construction, etc.  The application for the permit must be submitted prior to the start of any project. 

Please contact the City of Lambertville Construction Office for more information on obtaining the appropriate permit for your next project. 

The Construction Office can be reached at (609) 397-0803 or via e-mail at [email protected].  Please use the above number to report any illegal activity or development in the floodplain.

Often people think that streams and creeks flush debris downstream naturally, so it is logical to dump leaves or other debris into the watercourse.  Streams and ditches that become cluttered with debris are more vulnerable to increased flooding. 

It is important that individuals refrain from dumping leaves, yard waste, or other debris into these watercourses, including the canal. [email protected] to report the location to public works.

Floodplains provide several important and beneficial natural functions to the City of Lambertville and the surrounding area.  Floodplains that are relatively undisturbed provide a wide range of benefits to both human and natural systems.  In addition to the natural aesthetic afforded by natural open space, floodplains provide water storage, filtration of nutrients, water quality improvements and critical habitat for waterfowl, fish, and other animals.  Undisturbed floodplains also naturally provide erosion control and cumulatively reduce damage from future flooding hazards.

The City of Lambertville participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) so that residents can protect their property and possessions from flood hazards. Homeowner’s policies do not cover damage from floods. Flood insurance is only available to residents of communities that actively participate in the NFIP. If you do not currently have an NFIP policy, your insurance agent can provide information on flood insurance. The City of Lambertville has joined the Community Rating System (CRS), which provides discounts for flood insurance premiums within the Special Flood Hazard Area or 100-year floodplain. The City is currently a Class 8 community, meaning that holders of flood insurance in the Special Flood Hazard Area (1% annual chance of occurrence or commonly called the” 100-year floodplain”) receive a 10% discount on new and renewed policies.

If you currently own a flood insurance policy, check the coverage. Most standard policies cover the building structure, but not the contents. Contents insurance can be obtained by checking with your insurance agent. There is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance coverage takes effect. It is best to plan ahead; do not wait until a flood is imminent before purchasing flood insurance. All buildings within the floodplain that have a loan or mortgage from a federally regulated/insured bank are legally required to require a flood insurance policy for the structure. Flood Insurance rates will be going up in the next few years as Congress has authorized FEMA to increase annual rates by 20%; other increases will be due to reductions in subsidies for certain properties. Be sure to maintain your flood insurance coverage to lessen your increase! Lapsed policies now getting discounts will increase to actuarial rates.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires that if the cost of improvements to a building or the cost to repair damages (from any cause, not just flooding) exceeds 50% of the market value of the building (excluding land value), the entire building must be brought up to current floodplain management standards. Building improvement projects include exterior and interior remodeling, rehabilitation, additions and repair and reconstruction projects. Additionally, the cost of currently planned improvements will be added to the cost of previously made improvements and compared the existing market value to determine if the improvements exceed 50% of the structures value. Please contact the Lambertville City Construction Office at (609) 397-0803 for further information.

Protecting severely flood-prone properties from future losses reduces the overall cost to the NFIP, the expense for the homeowners, and the economic impact to the community.  In recognition of this important need for mitigation, Congress has created a variety of funding sources to help repetitive loss property owners reduce their exposure to flood damage.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) now has five grant programs and one insurance benefit.  More information on these programs can be found on the noted websites.

• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) − a grant made available after a Presidential disaster declaration 

• Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) − a grant that your community can apply for each year

• Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) − a nationally competitive grant that your community can apply for each year 

• Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) − a grant that FEMA administers for certain repetitive loss properties when there is no local government sponsor 

• Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) − a grant that is reserved for “Severe” repetitive loss properties, i.e.,those whose flood insurance policies are administered by FEMA’s Special Direct Facility rather than a private insurance company 

• Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) − an extra flood insurance claim payment that can be provided if an insured building was flooded and then declared substantially damaged by the local permit office  You should ask for this coverage in your insurance policy.

For more information, please visit www.Fema.gov

Most of the FEMA grants provide 75% of the cost of an eligible project.  The owner is expected to fund the other 25%, although in some cases, the state or local government may contribute to the non-FEMA share.  ICC pays 100% (up to $30,000) of the cost of bringing the damaged building up to the local ordinance’s flood protection standards.

The following PDF represents a list of publications available from the Lambertville Public Library

If you need additional information regarding flood-related concerns, here are some resources:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Get Assistance After a Disaster

FEMA Flood Insurance Information 

City of Lambertville, www.LambertvilleNJ.org, 18 York St, Lambertville, NJ 08530, Phone: (609) 397-0110

Lambertville Public Library, 6 Lily Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530, 

National Flood Insurance Program

FEMA Flood Preparedness 

NOAA Delaware River Water Elevation

City of Lambertville Construction Office

City of Lambertville Office of Emergency Management 

City of Lambertville Department of Public Works

Lambertville Free and Public Library