WILDWOOD – Property owners throughout Five Mile Island are invited to attend an April 6 presentation, “Reducing Flood Risk and Keeping Flood Insurance Rates Reasonable.”

The program, sponsored by the City of Wildwood and the International Association of Structural Movers (IASM), will give property owners an overview of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), flood maps, elevation certificates and project design/code requirements.

“Flood insurance premiums are predicted to increase for properties built before 1970,” said Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano. “Many buildings throughout our city as well as our neighboring communities were built prior to the creation of flood maps.”

According to Roderick Scott, CFM (Certified Floodplain Manager), flood hazard mitigation, elevation or dry flood proofing of buildings are the two methods NFIP recognizes for discounted rates. Flood mitigation also greatly reduces the risk of costly damaging flooding of a building.

Scott, a resident of Mandeville, La., is a nationally recognized leader in public education outreach for flood hazard mitigation and won the 2014 National Flood Proofing award for his public education work after Superstorm Sandy. He has worked on over 300 flood mitigation projects. In addition to his work on behalf of property owners, he also trains architects, civil engineers and code officials for continuing education credits.

“This program then explores the scope of work required to accomplish these important projects and reviews financing options for building owners,” stated Scott. “This is a time of changes in climate/sea level rise and flood insurance policy rates.”

The program will be held Apr. 6 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. in Wildwood City Hall, 4400 New Jersey