Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Figure 2.2 Elevation-in-place has heen widely used in the towns of Bel haven and Washington (Beaufort Coun(Y) to protect <br />the residents of these flood-prone communities from the effects of flooding. <br /> <br />In assessing the options for reducing the flood hazard in Belhaven and Washington, elevation of structures <br />was chosen over acquisition and relocation for at least one fundamental reason: relocation would involve <br />moving most of the homes and husinesses up to ten miles from the downtown area, This was viewed as <br />economically and socially disruptive, and not a viahle alternative, <br /> <br />Home Elevations: TIle Technique <br /> <br />The elevation procedure itself involves raising an entire existing structure so that the lowest habitable floor is <br />above the BFE, commonly known as the IOO-year flood elevation, The steps to elevate a building are <br />essentially the same for all structures. A cradle of steel beams is inserted underneath to allow hydraulic jacks <br />to mise the structure above the desired height, a new elevated foundation is constructed, and the intact <br />building is lowered and firmly anchored, The final appearance of elevated homes depends on the height of <br />elevation and type of foundation, <br /> <br />In the Spring of 1998, Belhaven, Washington and Beaufort County launched a multi-year progrJlll to elevate a <br />total of 550 houses and acquire another 14. Table 2, I provides the breakdmvn of the program by jurisdic- <br />tion, In total, the project budget was over $ 12 million. <br /> <br />V;'hen Hurricane Floyd struck the coast of NoMb Carolina, 47 houses had been elevated - 15 in Washington <br />and 32 in Belhaven, Fourteen honses had been acquired and demolished, all in Washington. The hurricane <br />caused major flooding in both communities, Floodwaters reached almost nine feet in Washington and <br /> <br />Table 2.1 - - <br /> Mitigation Tool <br />Jurisdiction Elevations Acquisitions Budget <br />Town of Belhaven 379 0 $7,453,335 <br />City of Washington 60 14 $2,040,667 <br />Beaufort County 106 0 $2,526,776 1 <br />Total 545 14 $12,020,718 <br /> <br />Housing Vulnerability Reduction in Beaufort County <br /> <br />24 <br />