Mitigation Best Practices

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - The record-setting and unprecedented flooding that lasted from the spring of 1993 into the early part of 1994 served as the catalyst for Missouri governments to look for solutions to the devastation and suffering caused by the massive floods. As a result, voluntary acquisitions, or buyouts, of flood-prone properties using Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), State, and local government funds became the choice of action. The FEMA program has been widely successful and, once again, proved its worth during the floods of 2008.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Torrance Green’s construction company had nearly completed two homes in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005. The hurricane brought 100 mph winds and floodwaters up to 10 feet above grade, demolishing neighboring residences, but both of Green’s structures survived the devastation thanks to his strict adherence to sound mitigation techniques.

HOLMES COUNTY, FL - Away from the Florida Panhandle’s urban areas, residents travel on dirt roads. The red clay roads of Holmes County, quietly located between Pensacola and Tallahassee, pass by country homes and farmsteads and through woods and pastures. When Hurricane Earl dumped 20 inches of rain on the Panhandle in 1998, these roads were severely flooded and washed out. Through a State of Florida and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) initiative, the dirt roads were upgraded to withstand years of use and rainstorms.

MILLER COUNTY, AR – The vicious cycle of “damage-repair” was all too familiar a scenario for Judge Roy McNatt and his road foreman Gary Roberts. As heavy rainfalls continued to cause washouts on County Road (CR) 207 located in Fouke, Arkansas, the road crew would come out and dump loads of gravel as a “quick fix” so that local residents could gain road access. Later, culverts were relayed and rip-rap added in an attempt at strengthening the road. Not only was the project costly, it was time consuming and repetitive.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Over $1 million of combined federal and state grants helped fund mitigation measures that protect a city neighborhood and significantly reduced their exposure to flood damage. Flood insurance for more than 100 homeowners can now be purchased at greatly reduced premiums.

According to Rick DeVries, Grand Rapids’ assistant city engineer, homes along Plaster Creek in south Grand Rapids were subject to repeated flooding. “It seemed like every few years the area would flood,” he said in August 2013.

ERIE, CO – A small mitigation project to repair a culvert at Erie Municipal Airport proved to be cost effective in the wake of the September 2013 flood.

For years, the culvert at the airport’s Coal Creek crossing needed significant repairs just to keep it operational during small storms.

GUADALUPE COUNTY, TX – Gilbert Acuna, a pharmacist, and his wife, Angie, a social worker, wanted to live closer to their daughters - three in San Antonio and one in Austin. They chose the small town of Seguin knowing that the town’s flood history meant that their dream home would have to be elevated.

“We consulted the city’s building official and were told that we needed to elevate eight feet above the floodplain to get a permit. We decided to add three more feet,” Acuna said. “My wife designed the home, and we had an architect to draft the plans.”

NORTH CAROLINA - A problem with mitigating natural disasters is knowing what threats are most likely and what can be done to protect against them. Another problem is thinking, "Disasters only happen to other people. It won't happen to me."

NORTH CAROLINA - A problem with mitigating natural disasters is knowing what threats are most likely and what can be done to protect against them. Another problem is thinking, "Disasters only happen to other people. It won't happen to me."

GULFPORT, MS – On August 29, 2005, with Hurricane Katrina’s devastating winds blowing outside, emergency personnel at the Harrison County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) were safe and secure thanks to storm shutters protecting the building’s windows.