FEMA Case Study Library

Browse case study reports and best practice articles from across FEMA's areas of expertise. You can search by title or keywords, select additional content filters, or jump to a collection.

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When the Waters Rise, Flood Insurance Speeds Recovery

LILBURN, GA – Still recovering from a historic drought that began in 2006, few Georgia residents have had flash flooding on their mind, let alone flood insurance.

Wilcox Pond Culvert Upgrade Preventing Roadway Overtopping

BIDDEFORD, ME - During large rain events, West Street, a major road in Biddeford, has had to be shut down. The area of West Street by the Wilcox Pond outflow culvert overtops during these events causing washout and structural damage to the road bed.

Wildfire Mitigation Tested in Orange County, CA

ORANGE COUNTY, CA - On the morning of Sunday, March 11, 2007, fire erupted at Windy Ridge along the 241 Toll Road in Orange County. The area, known for its brush covered hills, canyons and deep ravines, was a tinderbox and the fire fanned by the Santa Ana winds spread rapidly.

Wildfire Mitigation in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska

MATANUSKA-SUSITNA, AK - The Miller’s Reach Wildland Fire destroyed or damaged nearly 450 structures, and caused extensive damage to public infrastructure in June 1996.

Wildfire Mitigation in State Park Protecting the Ecosystem

MINNESOTA – A tornado and several windstorms caused severe damage in Itasca State Park, located in northwestern Minnesota, and has a half a million visitors each year. The storm damaged and blew down numerous pine trees throughout the park.

Wildfire Suppression Project to Protect Mountain Community

PIMA COUNTY, AZ - Just north of Tucson, Arizona, Mt. Lemmon -- a “sky island” -- rises nine thousand feet above the desert. The landscape morphs from desert to alpine in the twenty mile drive to the top.

Willis Creek-Locust Grove Flood Mitigation Project

ALLEGANY COUNTY, MD - This project represents the second phase in Allegany County government's plan to remove residential properties from the 100-year floodplain along Willis Creek. Severe flooding in 1984 resulted in 29 homes receiving serious damages from water.

Wimpole Drive – Moving From Waterway to Greenway with HMGP

DAVIDSON COUNTY, TN – Wimpole Drive, a street that stretches along Mill Creek in southeast Nashville, Tennesee, is tailor-made for the property acquisition option of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA’s) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

Winchester Culvert Upgrades Prevent Flooding

WINCHESTER, MA - Major storm events repeatedly overwhelmed the culverts at Sylvester Avenue and at Canal Street in Winchester, Massachusetts. A 50-year storm event caused flooding and erosion of the culverts in 1996, and in 1998 a 25-year storm damaged the locations.

Wind & Flood Resistant Home Protecting a Personal Investment

SOUTHPORT, NC - Frank and Pamela Taylor know the pain of losing a home to disaster. In 1988, fire claimed the couple's 4,000 square foot historic house in Michigan. "We were away when our home was destroyed," recalled Pamela Taylor.