Mitigation

Mitigation

The best kind of disaster is the one that never happens. The City of Roanoke has implemented extensive mitigation projects. Following are some of the city's past and present projects:

The City of Roanoke participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and is in the Community Rating System (CRS). Based on likelihood of flooding and mitigation programs in place, the city of Roanoke has received a rating that enables all residents to receive a five percent discount towards the cost of flood insurance. The city is continually pursuing ratings that would result in even higher discounts. Contact your insurance agent to learn more about flood insurance options.

A Storm Drainage Program has been on-going since the early 1970s.

In the mid 1980s, a storm drainage project for Williamson Road cost $15 million.

In 1989, a $7.5 million bond referendum was passed by voters for the Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project. This is a joint project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Total cost of this project is currently estimated at $40 million, with the city's share being approximately $15 million. This project includes Roanoke River channel improvement and floodproofing of public facilities. Environmental costs are currently being evaluated before the project can begin.

In the 1990s, a $4 million multi-phase drainage project was started in the Peters Creek watershed. The first phase cleared and removed debris along the creek in a six mile area. The second phase included channel work and replacement of four bridge and culvert structures and reduced the projected flood levels by over two feet in various areas along the creek. Planning began on the construction of two storm water detention basins to further reduce flooding levels along the creek. A floodproofing study was prepared to address the approximately 100 structures along Peters Creek remaining in the floodplain after improvements were completed.

October 1993, the city's Water Treatment Plant was floodproofed.

In 1994, the Roanoke Valley received its first mitigation grant from FEMA for a regional study of existing drainage problems and recommendations for the management of future flooding. The City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, City of Salem and Town of Vinton are working together with the and a citizen task force to complete this significant project by the end of 1997.

Aerial photographs and rainfall and soil information are in the process of being digitized.

The Integrated Flood Observing and Warning System (IFLOWS), a series of rain and stream guages, has been installed to warn businesses and citizens of impending floods.

Other drainage projects constructed since 1985 include Statesman Industrial Park storm drain improvements ($2.9 million), Luck Avenue Storm Drain Project ($1.5 million), Hollins at Whiteside Storm Drain Project ($0.5 million) and miscellaneous smaller storm drain projects ($0.5 million).

In November 1996, a multi-phase mitigation grant project for the Garden City area was approved. This project includes acquisition and removal of flood prone structures. Other phases in this watershed project include bridge replacements and channel and culvert improvements. This is the first time a mitigation grant of this type has been given in Virginia.