Defend NJ – Defend NJ’s REAL Rule

March 10, 2026

Opponents of the groundbreaking Resilient Environments and Landscapes Rule (REAL RULE) are at it again with their campaign of misinformation.

On January 20, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection published the REAL Rules to help increase NJ’s resiliency, reduce risks of flooding and loss of life to our communities. The rule does this by acknowledging that sea level is rising and will continue to rise. We need to ensure that new buildings are built in a manner that does not put people in harm’s way. Otherwise, we ignore what we know is happening and will continue to happen, at great expense to individuals, municipalities and the state.

In addition to saving lives and reducing property damage from flooding and storms, the REAL Rule will save the state and municipalities money. Moody’s bond ratings have favorably reviewed NJ’s resiliency measures, which has helped limit the state’s cost of borrowing money.

Our leaders need to hear from you that NJ cannot afford to abandon sound science and good economic policy. NJ cannot lose the REAL Rules.

Send your support for the REAL Rules to Governor Sherrill and the DEP

Defend NJ, Defend the REAL Rules

Dear Governor Sherrill:

Governor Sherrill:

Thank you for your commitment to making New Jersey more affordable and to protecting our state from flooding and other impacts from climate change.  The Resilient Environments and Landscapes Rules make our state more affordable over the long term while protecting the state’s residents from flooding and extreme storms. The Rules will save lives, reduce the potential for catastrophic property loss, and save New Jersey, our municipalities, and our residents money. I urge you to defend the REAL Rules from attack by opponents who seek to weaken or eliminate the rules.

The REAL Rules are an economic benefit to New Jersey.  We know that bond rating companies have reviewed NJ’s resiliency policies favorably, thus reducing borrowing costs and saving New Jersey money.  A report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Allstate, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation concluded that money spent on resiliency efforts provides benefits in reduced damage but also reduced economic impacts.  According to the report, every $1 spent on resiliency and disaster preparedness, saves $13 in “economic impact, damage, and cleanup costs” after an event. Again, this is an economic benefit to New Jersey.

New Jersey has suffered from the third highest in the nation FEMA flood loss claims, behind only Florida and Texas.  The billions of dollars that have been spent to  rebuild New Jersey’s communities does not fully accounted for the losses. Too many people in New Jersey have lost their homes, their businesses, and even their lives.  With the Federal Administration abandoning its role in helping states recover from disasters, New Jersey cannot afford to withdraw from the REAL Rules’ critical protections.

We urge your administration to do everything it can to defend the rules from the misguided legal challenges in Court and from attacks in the legislature to overturn the rules.  NJ cannot afford to ignore the science and proactive measures. Please defend the REAL Rules.

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Defend NJ – Defend NJ’s REAL Rule

Defend NJ, Defend the REAL Rules

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