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<br />Slide KS. Planning context for post-flood reconstruction plan <br /> <br />A damaging flood gives you a chance to reconsider land uses in the floodplain. This <br />diagram shows how post-flood reconstruction planning is linked to typical community <br />planning. Ideally, a community's comprehensive plan is the umbrella defining land <br />uses and circulation in the floodplain in relation to the rest of the community. A <br />comprehensive plan may contain or be supplemented by a floodplain area plan <br />recommending land uses and development practices in the floodplain to reduce flood <br />losses. A post-flood reconstruction plan is completed after a damaging flood and <br />essentially revises the comprehensive community plan and floodplain area plan (if <br />there is one). The rest of this introduction gives examples of how some cities have <br />planned and implemented new floodplain uses after major floods. <br /> <br />Slide K6. Downtown buildings on riverfront, Elmira, New York <br /> <br />Elmira, New York is a city of about 40,000 people on the Chemung River in the <br />"southern tier" of New York state. A main downtown street, aptly named Water Street, <br />runs next to the river. This pre-1970 slide shows buildings on the south side of Water <br />Street which are backed up to the river and theoretically protected by the flood wall just <br />shown. The first floor of the buildings contained stores and the upper floors either <br />contained offices or were vacant. <br /> <br />Slide K7. Flood in Elmira, New York, 1972 <br /> <br />Tropical storm Agnes stalled over the region in June 1972 causing major flooding in the <br />Chemung River basin. Here you see the buildings on Water Street with water up to <br />their second stories. A breach in the dike contributed to the flooding. <br /> <br />Slide KB. Sketch of redevelopment plan <br /> <br />After the floodwaters receded, the city decided to pursue redevelopment of the <br />downtown area with funding from HUD and help from the New York State <br />Development Corporation. An outlying shopping mall and stagnant economy had <br />caused a typical decline in downtown retail sales, and the area was in need of help <br />before the flood. The redevelopment plan, shown here, features a linear riverside <br />promenade incorporating the flood wall. The plan also proposes rehabilitation of many <br />historic buildings, a new four-lane arterial through downtown, closing Main Street to <br />create a park and pedestrian shopping mall, and other features to address the economic, <br />transportation, and social needs of the community as well as flood protection. <br /> <br />Script-Task K, page 2 <br />