Barnes County Fargo1 Fargo 2 Fargo 3 Fargo 4 Fargo 5
BACKGROUND
An abnormally wet cycle since 1993 had flooded homes yearly along the Sheyenne River north and south of Valley City, ND. The houses were built prior to issuance of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), and all but one were 1970’s or early 1980’s housing. The only other flooding the structures sustained was in 1979.
PROJECTS
A relocation of the house at the lowest elevation and a seven-home buyout represented the hazard mitigation project. Barnes County Commissioners could not put any money into the project, though they agreed to act as governmental sponsor so the emergency manager could accomplish the project. The land owners paid for the local share since they were getting the greatest benefits. At the time of these projects, substantial damage had not been experienced by the 8 homes. However, these projects were determined to be repetitive loss structures.
BENEFITS
The homeowners are now safe and out of the floodway, relocated out of the floodplain. They no longer experience yearly flooding, septic tank back ups, catastrophic private dike failures and dangerous travel through rapidly moving flood water (getting to and from their houses to keep pumps going behind sandbags) or "toughing it out", living in the upper floor without power or toilet facilities while battling the water to minimize damage. Barnes County taxpayers did not have to pay for the land owners’ purchasing mistakes. The land owners either were bought out for 86 percent of the appraised value or had a home relocated that they could not sell because of repetitive flooding. All but one home owner stayed in the county.
Banks did not experience losses from bankruptcies or home owners walking away from their mortgages. Where possible, Barnes County offered the upper floor of these houses for sale rather than demolition. This dramatically reduced lot salvage costs. The county collected $50,000 on sales for relocation of structures out of the floodplain. This reduced demolition and lot restoration to $12,000 for six properties of the buyout. The seventh has not been purchased. The $50,000 was deposited into the project account. At account close-out, the remainder of funds will be turned back to the state and FEMA.
The NRCS purchased two lots that it is returning to natural vegetation as a educational plot. Barnes County is leasing out other properties for pasture or for hay land to partially make up for the tax losses. The Department of Interior has purchased another for a recreational area adjacent to the fish hatchery.
In addition, when personnel from the National Flood Insurance Program came to photograph repetitive loss structures, three of the four properties targeted had been turned to empty lots. One of the home owners had at least three $30,000 claims, and would have had two more floods had the home remained on the lot. The fourth land owner who has experienced repetitive losses has never requested a buyout or other aid.
PROJECT COST
$650,000
FUNDING SOURCES
Landowners, State, FEMA-HMGP.
North Dakota Table of Contents
Storm Sewer Lid Station Installations
City of Fargo
BACKGROUND
The City of Fargo is located in the Red River Valley. The topography of the Valley and City is very flat and the river is prone to spring flooding associated with snowmelt runoff. The City’s 60 storm sewer outfalls that discharge into the Red River must be protected from backup during flooding conditions on the Red River. Backup protection consists of installing sluice gates or flap gates on storm sewers and lift stations to provide storm sewer capacity during high water conditions.
Since 1990, the City has completed installation of eight storm sewer lift stations. Each lift station was approved individually for HMGP funding based on the flood protection benefits these lift stations provide. These eight lift stations are located as follows:
- 18th Avenue North at Elm Street $70,000
- 8th Avenue North at Oak Street $70,000
- 32nd Avenue South at 11th Street $160,000
- Milwaukee Road at 40th Avenue $74,000
- 25th Street at Rose Coulee $53,000
- 52nd Avenue South at University Drive $102,000
- 32nd Street at 47th Avenue Southwest $84,000
- 38th Street Southwest at Drain 27 $87,000
- Total $700,000
The City is also currently working on the installation of three additional storm lift stations under the HMGP with completion scheduled for mid-1999.
BENEFITS
The City has invested heavily in storm sewer backup prevention and pumping stations. Why is preventing storm sewer flooding so important in Fargo? There are two basic reasons:
a) In some locations, land adjacent to the river is slightly higher than the land further to the east. This high ground along the river’s edge generally prevents surface flood waters from inundating the lower property. Without backup protection, the flood waters will backflow through the storm sewer coming out of the inlets and flooding all low-lying property to a level similar to the river level.
b) The second main reason to keep the storm system as dry as possible is to prevent possible transfers from the storm sewer to the sanitary sewer system. A flooded storm sewer tends to leak at its joints. Since the streets are underlain with a maze of different utility pipes, storm sewers and sanitary sewers often cross near each other, particularly sewer service connections to homes and businesses. Water leaking out of a flooded storm sewer can leak into a sanitary sewer service or main at quite rapid rates causing sanitary sewer flooding.
These eight permanent lift stations eliminate the need for temporary emergency pump operations during flood conditions. Since permanent pumps offer capacities ranging from 6 to 20 times greater than portable temporary pumps, the permanent installations offer much greater protection with minimal setup and operator intervention. It is estimated that these pump stations reduce damages and flood protective costs by approximately $800,000 for a 10-year flood occurrence. The City believes that these projects are extremely successful in improving flood preparedness and minimizing flood damages.
PROJECT COST
$700,000 for 8 Sites
FUNDING SOURCES
- FEMA- HMGP
- North Dakota
- CDBG
- Local
City of Fargo
BACKGROUND
During spring flooding in 1969, the City of Fargo constructed an emergency earth dike along 4th Street between 9th Avenue & 14th Avenue South. The "temporary" dike was left in place after the flood event serving to protect the area from flood events occurring in 1975, 1978, 1979, 1989 and 1993. City attempts to upgrade this dike to a permanent certified dike were stymied for many years by building encroachments, right-of-way limitations, riverbank stability concerns and funding availability. Following the 1993 flood disaster declaration, FEMA approved a conceptual plan to upgrade this dike.
PROJECT
The dike upgrade project included a river hydraulic analysis to determine floodplain impacts, reconstruction of existing "temporary" dike, relocation of one house, dike raising to levels appropriate for certification through use of concrete and segmented block retaining walls, and storm sewer lift station enhancements for storm sewer penetrations through the dike/floodwall.
BENEFITS
The existing temporary dike was unstable and not high enough to provide flood protection to the area. Upgrading the dike has provided permanent and secure flood protection for the City’s new $70 million water treatment and distribution facilities and public sewer facilities, along with approximately $75 million of private facilities in the area. The permanent facility will prevent the need for extensive emergency flood protective measures required during the spring flood of 1997. It is estimated that the improvements will prevent future flood damages of approximately $3.8 million for flood events similar to 1997.
PROJECT COST
$804,000
FUNDING SOURCES
- FEMA- HMGP
- North Dakota
- CDBG
North Dakota Table of Contents
Flood Prone Property Acquisition
City of Fargo
BACKGROUND
Record flooding occurred in the Red River Valley during the early spring of 1997 following the rapid melting of record amounts of snowfall from the winter of 1996/1997. In Fargo, ND the flooding severely impacted five residential neighborhoods. In spite of massive pre-flood preparations, four of these five neighborhoods were impacted by significant flooding of houses. Approximately 80 houses were severely damaged by flooding with nearly 30 of these damaged in excess of 50% of full value.
The project consisted of the acquisition and removal of 54 houses damaged by flooding. The removal of these houses occurred at a very rapid pace thanks to the cooperation of the FEMA and North Dakota Division of Emergency Management (NDDEM) Mitigation team. The project application was submitted in June 1997 and approved in July. Appraisals and acquisition began immediately, with house removal beginning in October 1997 and removal of all 54 houses completed by December 1998. The City also independently acquired and removed 26 additional houses as part of their overall flood prone property acquisition program.
BENEFITS
The City of Fargo considers the project as a success story in minimizing future flood damages and also in improving flood preparedness. Approximately $2.1 million in flood damages were sustained at these 54 properties during the 1997 flood. These damages were incurred in spite of the placement of approximately 750,000 sand bags to protect these properties at a cost of approximately $1 million (not counting volunteer and homeowner time and expenses). The removal of these houses will prevent need for future flood protective measures and eliminate a repeat of 1997 flood damages. Removal of these houses has also enhanced the river corridor with added green space and flood buffer area to the benefit of the neighborhoods and the river’s flow capacity.
PROJECT COST
$6,200,000
FUNDING SOURCES
- FEMA- HMGP
- CDBG
City of Fargo
BACKGROUND
During 1997 spring flooding, breakout flood flows from the Wild Rice River were trapped between Highway 81 and 25th Street Southwest. As the water moved north, it ponded behind roadways causing significant flooding. This flood water could not get back into the Red River channel due to limited culvert capacity under Highway 81. To ease flooding in 1997, Highway 81 was open cut to allow water to drain from west to east, with a temporary bridge installed to keep the highway open to traffic.
PROJECT
Two curves were installed across Highway 81 at the location of the roadcut. Sluice gates were installed on the culverts to control the flow during normal and flooding conditions.
BENEFITS
The culvert installation will prevent the need for extensive emergency protective measures while also significantly reducing future potential for flood damages. Maintaining permanent access along Highway 81 is crucial during flood events. The emergency measures necessary in 1997 limited access to the area. The new culverts will provide permanent flood flow capacity while eliminating access limitations.
PROJECT COST
$90,000
FUNDING SOURCES
- FEMA HMGP
- North Dakota
- Local
Forest Avenue Storm Sewer System
City of Fargo
BACKGROUND
The 2nd Street North area between 28th Avenue North and Forest Avenue is an old drainage swale. This swale was substantially filled prior to development in the area; however, the area remains between 2’ to 4’ below the surrounding property. Trunk storm sewers are located on both 2nd Street and Forest Avenue, collecting runoff from surrounding higher ground. During intense rainfall, the storm sewer fills up and floods the low lying area along the trunk storm line. Extensive overland flooding has occurred in the past. Flooding levels build up and enter homes through exterior openings in basements and first floors.
PROJECT
The project consisted of installing a separate storm sewer system in the low lying area prone to flooding and isolating the new storm system from the existing storm sewers in the area with backup flap gates, lift station and manhole sealing. Flow from the old storm sewer system can no longer spill out, flooding the low area. Runoff from the low area is collected in the new storm sewers and pumped out of the area into the existing sewer system.
BENEFITS
Since completion in early 1996, the area has endured four intense rain storms that would have previously resulted in significant surface water flooding. The project has operated as intended to prevent street and property flooding, saving an estimated $400,000 in flood damages the past three summers.
PROJECT COST
$507,000
FUNDING SOURCES
FEMA- HMGP
- North Dakota
- CDBG
- Local