U5L10 Flood Mitigation Management Flashcards
What does the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) do?
Provides assistance to individuals who have suffered losses due to federally declared disasters.
In 2018, it also provided $70 million to support flood mitigation efforts in communities that experience frequent losses of property due to flooding. FEMA estimates that every dollar spent on disaster mitigation results in a savings of six dollars on disaster response.
When old flood mitigation strategies fail, cities must decide what strategies to use in the future. Who do the cities work with to implement new flood mitigation techniques?
the FEMA
What is the definition of flood mitigation techniques?
Strategies to manage and control the movement of flood waters
In the city of Grand Forks, ND, why did it flood?
1997
The land around the red River, which is near, was flat. During the winter of 1997, Grand Forks received 98 inches of snow— three times its normal annual snowfall. In April of 1997, a rapid spring thaw caused the snow to melt quickly. The water moved over the still-frozen land and into the Red River. Despite using over 3.5 million sandbags in an effort to protect the city, the river reached a level of 26.2 feet above flood level and flowed over the sandbags. Once the water flowed over the sandbags, it spread out more than 2 miles inland alongside the river.
In the city of Grand Forks, ND, what damage was left by the flood?
(1997)
Because the flooding was anticipated, the evacuation order sent out early. 90% of the population of 52,000 people were evacuated. No lives were lost.
83% of the homes and 62% of the commercial buildings were damaged or destroyed. 11 historic buildings burned in a fire.
There was no running water for 13 days and no drinkable water for 23 days.
The combined damages to the Grand Forks area totaled $1.5 billion.
After the flooding, the city of Grand Forks worked with… who?
(1997)
FEMA, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and other organizations to instigate several flood mitigation projects
What changes were done to the city of Grand Forks after the flood?
(1997)
1,187 damaged dwellings and other structures were removed from floodplain areas.
Over 800 additional properties in floodplain areas were purchased in a voluntary buyout program.
A systems of new dikes was constructed on both the North Dakota and Minnesota side of the river. Nine and a half miles of diversion
channels were built to direct water around the city during times of flood.
Twelve new flood pump stations were constructed.
Extra protection was provided for critical infrastructure, such as the city’s water treatment plant.
New buildings were elevated with critical systems and documents housed on higher floors.
In the city of Grand Forks, after the flood, the idea of a Greenways was presented. Describe it.
A major flood mitigation effort was turning the floodplain along the river into an area called the Greater Grand Fork Greenway. The Greenway provides an area for river water to safely spill during times of flooding while providing a popular recreational area to be used at other times.
The Greenway is about 2,200 acres of open space. It features multiple parks, 2 golf courses, campgrounds, over 20 miles of trails, areas for fishing and snowmobiling, and areas for sports such as basketball, volleyball, and hockey.
The Greenway has allowed for the restoration of native stream bank vegetation and wildlife.
In Grand Forks, how much money was spent on flood mitigation?
$409 million
In Grand Forks, how much money was spent on the Greenway alone?
$22 million
On Grand Forks, what did Greater Grand Forks Greenway included?
the buyout or relocation of hundreds of homes
How did the Greenway help regain the population in Grand Forks?
Residents and tourists alike take advantage of the recreational opportunities of the Greenway, a newly designed town square, and a new convention center that can also serve as a disaster-staging area.
How could a relatively small city like Grand Forks be a model for other communities that are at risk of flooding?
Grand Forks developed flood mitigation techniques that have been shown to reduce damages. Developing the floodplain into an open green space is a technique that could serve as a model for other communities. The city could also share its lessons learned about recommended ways to coordinate volunteers, distribute emergency supplies, establish points of contact with relief agencies, document all files and actions, and communicate progress.
In 2005, what caused New Orleans to flood?
Hurricane Katrina
Describe the flooding the occurred in Nee Orleans.
2005
Hurricane Katrina began as a tropical depression in the Caribbean in August of 2005. By the time it reached the Gulf of Mexico, it had become a Category 5 hurricane. Winds of speeds over 120 mph pushed seawater into Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne, which border New Orleans. The seawater, combined with the roughly 10 inches of rainfall that occurred at the same time, caused the lakes to flood and many of their levees to fail. 53 breaches occurred in the levees surrounding the city, many due to flaws in either the levees’ design or in their lack of completion. Water poured into the areas of the city that were below sea level, most of which were lower-income communities.
What was the damage in New Orleans caused by the hurricane?
2005
The devastation to the city was massive. Roughly 80% of New Orleans was flooded, in some cases by water up to 20 feet deep. Over 800,000 housing units were damaged or destroyed. Nearly all of the major roads became impassable, hampering evacuation. Tens of thousands of people who did not or could not evacuate were left stranded without food or shelter and required rescue. Physical damages were estimated at $70 billion. It is estimated that 1,464 people died.
Who helped New Orleans with the recovery plan?
When the city was ready to rebuild its flood mitigation system, major studies were completed first by several agencies, including the state of Louisiana and the Army Corps of Engineers.
New Orleans had a slow start to work that the studies agreed on. Why?
Lack of funding and political infighting
