Flood News
After recent flooding in the past few years, the township has been working to reduce the impact of future heavy rains. Trees and dead debris were cleared from the stream and an emergency flood pathway was made. The pathway will help improve water flow. The creek has also been lined with stone in areas of high flood risk. Cornerstone Bridge is planned to be replaced once the plans are finalized. This will not be a short project and will take time to properly coordinate and execute.
Understanding Flooding
When flooding occurs, one question is always in the forefront: why did it flood? Unfortunately, there is not one simple answer. We can start by examining what types of flooding exist. Four main different types of floodplains (valley, major river, shallow, and coastal), each with unique characteristics, are described below. The fifth type (ponding/overland) describes flooding caused by intense rainfall where no identifiable floodplain exists. This occurs when street drainage systems cannot move the storm water to the nearest channel because too much rain falls in a short period.
Valley: The ground in this type of area is more “defined,” with creek valleys. Flooding can be very deep and usually extends for a few days.
Major River: The floodplain along major rivers can be large, deep, and swift, and flooding conditions may last a week or more.
Shallow: Affect thousands of residences and buildings. When the channel capacity is exceeded, flooding begins. This flooding usually lasts hours, rather than days.
Coastal: Flooding occurs when storm events coincide with unusually high tides or a hurricane surge floods low-lying areas. High water levels are usually accompanied by waves capable of causing significant structural damage.
Ponding/Overland: This type of flooding is not restricted to any one area of the U.S. or to any one area of a community. It can occur almost anywhere. When intense local rainfall exceeds storm sewer or roadside ditch capacity, the water can “pond” in the streets deep enough to flood residences that are not even near a creek or bayou. The water will seek a path to the channel by flowing overland (sheet flow).
Every property has some risk of flooding, even properties that are not located near a known flooding source such as a river, ocean, or lake. As a property owner or renter, you should learn the flood risk for your residence or building by reviewing the NFIP flood map for your community. You can view the flood map on the FEMA Map Service Center website, FEMA Flood Map Service Center | Search By Address.
Remember, homeowners or rental insurance does not cover flood damages. Floods may occur even in area designated as moderate or minimal risk. Approximately 25% of all flood insurance claims occur in these areas. Contact your insurance agent to discuss your risk and the pricing options.
Defining a Property's Flood Risk
Provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Make an Emergency Kit
The official government website Ready helps prepare homeowners for emergency situations. If you’re interested, check out their article on making a disaster supply kit here. This can be utilized for flooding or any other potential disaster.