FEMA to release new flood elevation maps for N.J.

Owners of property on the New Jersey shore will soon learn how high the federal government believes they should raise their homes and businesses after Superstorm Sandy.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says it will release base flood elevation maps on Saturday.

Official maps used for flood insurance purposes will come out later.

But these advisory maps intended to guide rebuilding efforts offer the first word from the federal government on how rebuilt homes on the shore will look after Sandy.

The maps will provide descriptions of flood hazards in Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union counties.