FLOOD07834 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

L- - - - -- OoRoEoGoOoN .- - -- - --- - - - - - - -. - -- - - Oregon is also proving the need to move people out of harm's way. In 1996, severe flooding damaged homes and businesses in 27 of the state's 36 counties. To help reduce the damage of future disasters, state and local programs assisted the counties of Tillamook and Lane and the city of Nehalem to elevate homes and businesses above the floodplain. To date, over 40 structures have been elevated, helping them to successfully avoid damage during the winter floods of 1998. -. Oregon Emergency Management and the Oregon Economic Development Depart- ment (OEDD) work very closely with FEMA to leverage funding for hazard mitigation projects. OEDD administers the Community Development Block Grant program for Oregon's rural counties, many of which sustained flooding during multiple, major flood and landslide disasters in 1996 and 1997. CDBG funds are also being integrated into the state's mitigation program to support elevation and acquisition projects that could not otherwise be funded through FEMA's HMGP program. In one community, where CDBG funds will be used to acquire homes in a f1oodway, the state's Housing and Community Services Department is helping to create new affordable rental . housing for the residents who must relocate. Coordinating state agency resources is the key to making this mitigation project feasible. 'VoEoio-MoOoNoT , The state oiV;;;;;;;-nthad tw'"o disasters in 1998,-an ice storm and riverine flooding. Its state and local governments are now actively pursuing hazard mitigation and applying for state and federal grants. In 1998, the state acquired 14 parcels damaged during summer flooding. The state is also very proud of successfully working with FEMA to complete this acquisition within 60 days of the declaration. The area will now be- come a public canoe and fishing park and picnic ground. Vermont's most innovative effort is a demonstration project for stream bank stabilization using a variety of natural components. This project, administered through the State Agency of Natural Resources, will hopefully provide Vermont with a variety of proven solutions to its most persistent problem of erosion along Vermont's rivers and streams. Vo.o R:-G:.o N o.-o-A ~ -- -----. - --.. Like other states, Virginia has also had its share of flooding and is exploring ways to fund mitigation projects across the state. One example has been the Flood Prevention and Protection Fund, which provided hundreds of thousands of dollars for flood mitigation and the match for federal programs. Revenue for the fund has been generated through a requirement that insurance companies writing flood insurance pay a tax of one percent of the total gross premium income for such insurance. As in other states, Virginia's efforts are starting to payoff. In 1997 and 1998, the state funded the buy-out of 36 houses in the floodplain near Garden City. Fortunately, there has not been a major flood in the area since the buy-out. However on several occasions, storm water has already backed-up and covered the cleared lots. Had the houses still been standing, they would have had flooding. Even more importantly, had there been a major flood, the cost to the community would have been significant. Through such efforts, Virginia is helping to save money and protect its citizens. ~ National Emergency Management Association