Mitigation Best Practices

YARDLEY, PA - In April 2005, both the Delaware River and the Delaware Canal overflowed their banks. They met at Tessie Reading’s house. Tessie is no stranger to floods. When she and her husband began construction of their home in 1955, prior to floodplain management ordinances, they experienced their first flood. Construction was delayed until 1956.

Guayama, PR - Born and raised in Barrio Puerto Jobos in Guayama, Miguel Flores and his wife Evangelia Diaz have seen floodwaters rise into their home so many times they barely can number them. This octogenarian and his wife have had two to four feet of water rush into their house in a matter of minutes.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MI - The six Mobile homes that sit on a small peninsula near the HiLand Lake and the Portage River were purchased through the Hazard Mitigation Program Grant (HMPG) in order to eliminate the emotional and financial hardships that would afflict the homes’ residents following potential floods. The case of the six mobile homes is proof of the effectiveness of flood mitigation for shortly after the homes were purchased, the area flooded and many of the trailers were severely damaged or destroyed.

COTTONWOOD, AZ – Arizona’s Verde River showed its dangerous side by flooding four times during the winter of 2004-2005. But for the most part, the Cottonwood homeowners along Comanche Drive with front-row views of the river escaped serious damage. Under a Yavapai County requirement, homes built in the Verde’s floodplain must be elevated at least one foot above the base-flood level. Although the rising water entered some of the lower-level crawlspaces, no flooding was reported in the living areas of these homes.

DURHAM, NH - In October of 1996 the Hood House on the campus of the University of New Hampshire (UNH) at Durham flooded, causing $11,848 in damages. Damages were held to a minimum because of the swift action of the University Building and Grounds personnel. If the event occurred during off hours potential for damage would have exceeded $118,000. In addition, there have been numerous minor flooding incidents at the facility.

HOPKINSVILLE, KY – Nestled at the base of the Pennyrile Region in southwestern Kentucky, Hopkinsville community officials and residents know first-hand the importance of flood mitigation. Flooding from the Little River has caused 18 major flood events in Christian County in the last 100 years. In March 1997, after major flooding caused over $75 million in damages and devastated 450 homes, officials in “Hop-Town” (as locals refer to their community) knew it was time to pursue ways to lessen the impact flooding was repeatedly having on their town.

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – A nightmare, to put it mildly, is how Houstonians refer to the reign of Tropical Storm Allison. In June 2001 she ruled with a vengeance, creating massive flooding.

SHOREACRES, TX – In 2002, when David and Cynthia Garza decided to build their 2,200-square-foot dream home, they had no idea the road to achieving their dream would be paved with building codes. Initially frustrated by the requirements, they later credited the city’s “hard-nosed” building inspector for their home’s survival during Hurricane Ike (2008).

ORANGE, TX – Fearing the wrath of Hurricane Rita, staff at Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital in this southeast Texas city hurriedly evacuated patients a little more than 20 miles away to the hospital’s affiliate in Beaumont, Texas. Their actions came just in time. The Category 3 storm rolled in with a vengeance on September 24, 2005, rendering the hospital inoperable for more than two weeks. That hard lesson prompted hospital officials to take mitigation measures for future events.

BEE COUNTY, TX - In 1996, Jason and Alice Dickenson purchased an old, 1,800 square-foot wood-frame home in the unincorporated town of Skidmore, Texas. They were unaware of the zoning, building restrictions, community ordinances, and the need for homeowners insurance.

On Aug. 30, 2001 the Aransas River topped its banks and more than four feet of water poured into their home. “We could tell that the water was rising. We grabbed whatever we could and got out of harm’s way. The water just seem to pick everything up and set it down some place else,” Alice said.