New Jersey has adopted federal flood elevation guidelines in order to help avoid high insurance premiums on homes and businesses. The Federal Emergency Management Agency could take up to two years to issue guidelines, but Governor Chris Christie said that the state's "fairly aggressive" guidelines would meet or exceed those issued by FEMA. By issuing the guidelines now, property owners can start rebuilding now, instead of waiting. Governor Christie said that "if we wait, all we're doing is delaying New Jersey's recovery."

Buildings that do not meet the new standard could expect up to $31,000 per year in flood insurance premiums, while those at the standard would pay $7,000, and those that exceed the standard by two feet would pay $3,500.

Jeff Tittel, executive director of the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club had another reason for establishing the regulations. "It is not about insurance premiums, it is about public safety. We need to make FEMA elevations mandatory for rebuilding, otherwise we are putting people and property in harm's way."