Mitigation Best Practices

MOORE HAVEN, FL – When Hurricane Wilma crossed Glades County on Oct. 24, 2005, tropical winds met with cold air masses and intensified the storm. The unusual weather phenomenon caused Wilma to batter the county with winds in excess of 100 mph for a continuous 42 minutes—without the normal calm that occurs when the eye passes. With the damage incurred during previous hurricanes, officials wondered how the facilities would look when they surveyed the grounds.

VINTON, VA - The primary risk in Virginia's Roanoke Valley is from flooding caused by tropical storms and localized thunderstorms and heavy rains. The Roanoke River and numerous smaller streams traverse the valley, which is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area has experienced 17 major flooding events between 1877 and 1995 with the four largest floods occurring in the last 25 years.

TOM GREEN COUNTY, TX – NOAA’S National Weather Service (NWS) reports that 80 percent of flood-related deaths in South Texas occur as a result of people driving through low-water crossings, walking along the banks of flooded areas, or playing in floodwaters. Texans are driving or walking into harm’s way.

TEXAS - In June 2001, Tropical Storm Allison ravaged 31 counties in Texas, including Harris County. The storm caused $5 billion in damage in the City of Houston, the county seat of Harris County. Working under a Cooperating Technical Partner agreement, FEMA and the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) conducted a flood studies leading to the remapping of 1,200 stream miles in 22 watersheds encompassing all 35 of the flooded communities.

HARRIS COUNTY, TX - Tropical Storm Allison descended on southeast Texas in June of 2001 and dumped 37 inches of rain in 12 hours, claiming 23 lives. Portions of major highways were submerged, 30 counties affected, businesses were destroyed and 1,611 damaged, 155 schools sustained water damage and over 35,000 homes were affected by flooding. The Texas Medical Center campus and buildings sustained damages that are expected to exceed $2 billion. Tropical Storm Allison is now the flood of record for the Houston metropolitan area and Harris County.

DANVILLE BOROUGH, PA - Sitting on the banks of the Susquehanna River, Danville Borough has seen its share of floods. Following heavy rains, the river surges and rushing waters threaten the town.

ATLANTIC COUNTY, NJ - The project is located in the West Atlantic City portion of Egg Harbor Township and consisted of dune stabilization in three sections of shoreline along the north shore of Lake’s Bay, a large tidal embayment behind the barrier beach located south of Ventnor City, New Jersey, and north of Great Egg Harbor Inlet. Lake’s Bay opens into the Atlantic Ocean via Great Egg Harbor Inlet and is thus vulnerable to tidal forces, particularly the extremes associated with hurricanes and other severe storms.

MARSHALL COUNTY, AL – On April 27, 2011, widespread damage was reported in Guntersville, AL, with trees down and some residents trapped in vehicles or homes. Trees and power lines blocked roadways as tornadoes ranging from EF-0 to EF-4 struck Marshall County. Five fatalities were recorded. According to Anita McBurnett, Marshall County’s Director of Emergency Management, the picture could have been grimmer in several rural communities had warning systems not been in place.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FL - For several weeks after Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and then again after Hurricane Dennis in 2005, Pensacola Beach residents and visitors got a free ride – through the Bob Sikes Toll Facility, that is. The tile roof of the toll booth had been severely damaged during Hurricane Ivan. Eventually, the tolls began to be collected again; however, the car toll counters were still inoperable.