Mitigation Best Practices

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.

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.

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. In cooperation with local businesses, several local, state, and federal entities created a Wildfire Mitigation Plan to implement aggressive fire prevention programs rather than continue to rely upon fire fighting and suppression.

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. As the downed, wet trees dried, the potential for a catastrophic wildfire greatly increased in the park. The bark beetle exists in all pine forests, but usually does not present a threat to a healthy forest. However, the storm created the perfect breeding environment for the bark beetle.

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. Saguaro cacti disappear to be replaced with majestic Ponderosa pines, while October temperatures in the upper 80’s on the desert streets turn to temperatures in the upper 50’s in Summerhaven, a tiny resort town at the summit. With only one paved access road, the island metaphor is natural.