Mitigation Best Practices

FORESTVILLE, CA - Wayne Gibb lives on a quiet street about a quarter of a mile from the banks of the Russian River. But when the rain-swollen river jumped its banks in 1986, Gibb's backyard was flooded with more than 5 feet of water, and the floodwaters poured into more than 30 houses on the block.

KEY WEST, FL - The Duval Beach Club sits on the only natural stretch of beach in Key West. In 2005, it was hit by Hurricanes Rita and Wilma. Thanks to the mitigation efforts initiated by the restaurant’s owner, Fred Tillman, worries about flood damage have been reduced.

“We’ve been through seven storms…and so far, we’ve sustained little to no serious damage,” noted Mr. Tillman.

VILLA GROVE, IL - Located along the Embarras River, Villa Grove, a small town of only 2,553 residents, is prone to flash floods as well as river flooding. The Jordan Slough and the Embarrass River are of significant relevance. In 1994, there was a flood of record, which warranted coverage by CNN. It was during this event that Jackie Athey, City Clerk for Villa Grove, found herself in a quandary as to how to handle the flood.

CHICAGO, IL - Looking out the window as one flies into O'Hare airport, a sea of rooftops fills the Chicago landscape. And off those rooftops, much rain does run - straight into the city's sewer system.

DUNCAN, OK - The year 2007 went into the history books as the sixth wettest for Duncan, Oklahoma. Residents saw five major floods with three of them greater than 100-year flood event. The flood on June 28 resulted in a sewer main failure. But quick action and Rip Rap saved the City from unsanitary contaminants, a fate that could have occurred when Tropical Storm Erin dropped 6.2 inches of intense rain on August 19.

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. In midSeptember 2009, four days of heavy rainfall broke nearly a century-old record at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, inundating Fulton County (including downtown Atlanta) as well as 22 other counties in northwest and middle Georgia.

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. In addition to the loss of road access, the washout creates a 7 mile detour for public safety vehicles and the potential for threats to the safety and health of the residents.

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. Seventeen of these properties were purchased, and the remaining twelve were elevated above the 100-year floodplain. The Maryland Historical Trust ruled that the flooding in 1984 eliminated any historical value that Locust Grove may have possessed.

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). Because Wimpole Drive experiences repetitive flooding, residents are in harm’s way and financial costs are significant.

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. Finally, a 2001 storm brought substantial damage, which led to a hazard mitigation project for the Town of Winchester.