Mitigation Best Practices

AUSTIN, MN - When the City of Austin, located in southern Minnesota, implemented their most recent mitigation project, no one expected to reap the benefits so soon. In 2007, the city acquired and removed 15 flood-prone homes in the Wildwood Park area, which had flooded six times between 1978 and 2004. The acquisitions couldn’t have come sooner. In June of 2008, the Wildwood Park area was flooded again and every acquired, but now vacant, parcel was once again flooded.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The CHUG (Central HAZUS Users Group) provides a means of collaboration between HAZUS-MH users within FEMA Region 5. This group looks at software challenges, HAZUS-MH projects, and the overall general use of HAZUS-MH software. The main goal of the CHUG is to maximize the potential of HAZUS-MH within the region. Sharing the successes and challenges between users helps bring the entire region together in planning for natural disasters.

ST. PETER, MN - The Minnesota River covered Highway 99 in Le Sueur County in the spring of 2001. The high water caused the closing of the busy roadway that crosses the river and made the bridge from the unincorporated community of East St. Peter to the city of St. Peter impassable. The rush of waters was a repeat of the flooding in 1997, and before that in 1993.

MOORHEAD, MN - Located in northwestern Minnesota, the City of Moorhead lies along the Red River of the North and experiences repetitive flooding. In 1993, the City experienced its fifth damaging flood in the past 20 years, damaging several homes. Four years later, the City experienced record flooding in April of 1997 that substantially damaged 16 homes. The majority of these homes were located in the River Oaks subdivision on an inside bend of the river, making the homes especially flood prone.

EAST GRAND FORKS, MN - The City of East Grand Forks is located in northwestern Minnesota along the Red River of the North. As a result of heavy snowfall during the winter and quick snowmelt in the spring, the Red River valley experienced a record flood in April of 1997. The City of East Grand Forks was flooded almost in its entirety, with only 1 percent of the buildings being spared any damage. The northern location of the town, in northwestern Minnesota, allows only a short building season.

AUSTIN, MN - After Richard and Helen Johnson were flooded the first time, they knew that participating in the City's buyout project was the best option for them. They waited patiently. When they were offered a buyout of their flood prone home, they were thrilled.

Following the 2000 flood, funding became available for the purchase of their home. After being flooded in 1978, 1993, 1997 and 2000, Richard said "the buyout was a wonderful opportunity to better our situation. "

ADA, MN - The small town of Ada, population 1657, lies in the flat fertile farmlands of northwest Minnesota. The Wild Rice River meanders its way through the countryside a mile outside of town, traveling fifteen miles to empty into the northward heading Red River.

MINNESOTA - Minnesota is known for its inclement weather. But even longtime residents were taken aback by the ferocity of such an early winter storm when it began Halloween night of 1991. First rain drenched southern Minnesota. Then the temperature dropped and it changed to ice and snow. The combination of 50-80 mph winds and precipitation with temperatures ranging from 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit, created hazardous and damaging ice conditions.

LAKE COUNTY, MN - Loss of power can be devastating at any time, but when the annual average temperature reaches only 40 degrees Fahrenheit, providing power to Minnesota customers can be life saving. Cooperative Light and Power Association of Lake County (CLP) has fought the battle of wind and ice storms and saving lives many times. Located along the remote northern shore of Lake Superior in northeastern Minnesota, CLP services many customers in very isolated locations. These customers depend on their power throughout the heavily forested county.

MINNESOTA - The State has taken a pro-active role in providing some relief to communities that encounter blowing and drifting snow, resulting in hazardous travel,

economic losses, and extremely high plowing costs in the winter.