Mitigation Best Practices

Background and Issue

In 2011, as part of a Risk MAP analysis of the Big Wood Watershed in Idaho, FEMA performed Discovery in several counties in the south central part of the state, including Blaine County. FEMA’s Discovery is an effort to more fully engage communities during the flood mapping needs evaluation process. At the close of the Big Wood River Discovery effort, an additional study of the watershed was not funded.

SYLMAR, CA - On November 15, 2008, the Sayer Fire engulfed the Oakridge Mobile Home Park, a beautiful, gated community in Sylmar. Of the park’s 600 homes, 480 were destroyed. The fire was so hot that fire hoses melted into the concrete. In a press briefing the following day, Governor Schwarzenegger noted that the homes in the Oakridge community had ignited "like matches," and called for a review of fire retardant standards applicable to mobile homes and mobile home parks.

SACRAMENTO, CA – The homeowners in a low-lying section of Rio Linda used to worry about flooding whenever the winter storm season arrived. When heavy rains hit the neighborhood, the normally benign Dry Creek overflowed its banks, threatening the row of ranch-style houses on U Street. Over the past few years, Rio Linda residents have participated in FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program, which have helped dozens of Sacramento County homeowners protect themselves against flooding.

CAMERON COUNTY, TX - In the summer of 2008 when Hurricane Dolly swamped the old neighborhood, now largely vacant ground, she unleashed nearly a foot of rain over Antonia Iberra’s old home, but nobody was home. In 2006, Antonia and most of her neighbors had moved out as part of a government floodplain acquisition program.

NORMAN COUNTY, MN - The repetitive flooding of the Red River Valley has caused Norman County residents and local government officials to place a high priority on flood protection. Partnerships were formed to provide solutions to keep farmers in business and communities viable. The Wild Rice Watershed District (WRWD) has been working with rural residents, state agencies and FEMA on implementing a mitigation strategy of acquisition and ring dike construction.

RICHMOND, VA - When the owners of a new Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar franchise considered opening in the historic Shockoe Bottom entertainment district, they knew the area was prone to flooding. Their decision to make the building flood resistant soon paid off.

The new restaurant opened a little more than a year before Tropical Storm Gaston came on August 30, 2004. The flood reached 8 to 10 feet above street level in some areas. It damaged 48 businesses and left many people homeless.

CONECUH COUNTY, AL – Conecuh County Engineer, Winston Foshee, knew that without preventive action the County was facing the potential for failure of seven bridges. Working with the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA), Conecuh County received Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding to retrofit seven bridge sites and add a new bridge to reduce road damages and improve public safety.

ROSEVILLE, CA – The City of Roseville in Placer County, California, has experienced repetitive flooding in 1986, 1995, and 1997 from several small creeks. After witnessing the damages from the 1986 floods, the owner of the Sunrise Retirement Villa, a 200-unit senior citizen facility, implemented significant mitigation measures.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - On May 9, 2003, tornados swooped across Oklahoma City’s “Tornado Alley.” The tornados path was virtually the same as the one that struck 4 years prior. Oklahoma has historically been subject to destructive and deadly tornados and high winds. After the 1999 tornado, 44 persons died, 800 were injured and over 6,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.

NEW YORK – The scope of Sandy’s damage reinforced a basic principle of good government: coordination among all affected applicants and agencies to achieve a common goal. Nowhere was this more vividly illustrated than with the Region II New York Sandy Recovery Office’s (NYSRO) Environmental and Historic Preservation’s (EHP’s) collaborative efforts during Sandy’s recovery. EHP worked closely with internal staff, federal partners and New York State to streamline the project review process.