Residents living in or near a floodplain might be searching for resources to protect their properties during the spring rain storms. The City offers a variety of ways to help.
Flood Insurance
City engineers and building inspectors can offer free technical advice when it comes to flood protection and drainage problems, as well as on-site flood protection assistance to inquirers. They can also provide information about whether your property is in the FEMA floodplain, floodway, or other flood areas, as well as historical flood information (a small fee applies to non-residents).
Since nearly 25 percent of all flood damage claims occur outside of the floodplain, the City recommends working with your insurance company to review and asses your flooding risk. To further protect your home from flooding:
- landscape your yard so surface water flows away from your home
- make sure your sump pump is working, and install a battery-operated backup in case of a power failure
- install a water alarm to let you know if water is accumulating in your basement
- keep debris and trash out of nearby streams, ditches, and drainage ways
Flood Mitigation Cost Share Reimbursement Program
The Flood Mitigation Cost Share Reimbursement Program encourages property owners to make landscaping and other improvements that will mitigate the chance of flood damage.
Program applications must be received by October 1 of each year for implementation the following year. The City then reviews and evaluates applications to determine which projects will be selected for design, permitting, and construction the following year.
The City awards each successful applicant a onetime reimbursement incentive of 40 percent of the eligible flood mitigation costs, up to a maximum of $50,000 per property.
More information is available on the Floodplain Management page on the City website.