Mitigation Assessment Team Report on

Midwest Floods of 2008In Iowa and Wisconsin

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Iowa Rivers and MAT Visits

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Wisconsin Rivers and MAT Visits

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Cedar Rapids Flood Zones and Actual Inundation

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Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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Flooding at Mercy Medical Center

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Gays Mills, Wisconsin

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Reedsburg, Wisconsin

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Numerous Foundation Wall Failures

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Prematurely Pumped Water Out of Basement

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Coralville, Iowa

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Coralville, Iowa

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Coralville, Iowa

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Idyllwild Subdivision

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1 2

3 4

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Oakville, Iowa

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Oakville, Iowa

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Oakville, Iowa

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Oakville, Iowa

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Recent Elevated Construction

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2

3

1

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2

3

1

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Openings

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Elevation, Post-Event

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Elevation, Post-Event

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Elevation, Post-Event

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Elevation, Post-Event

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Dry Floodproofing

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Poorly Located Utilities

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Raised Utilities, Pre-Event

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Raised Generator, Post-Event

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Cedar Rapids Critical Facilities

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Cedar Rapids Critical Facilities

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Underground Parking Structure

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Access Tunnel to Courthouse

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CRPD Headquarters

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CRPD Headquarters

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Reedsburg WWTF

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Reedsburg WWTF

Earthen

berm

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Reedsburg WWTF Access Road

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Baraboo WWTF

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Baraboo WWTF

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Baraboo WWTF

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Baraboo WWTF Access Road

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Des Moines Water Works

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Des Moines Water Works

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Floodplain Debris

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Acquisitions

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Conclusions and Recommendations

Basements

– removing/filling in the basement when rebuilding

– reinforcing foundation walls during repairs

– outreach on hazard associated with prematurely pumping water out of their basements

Foundations

– importance of securing existing buildings that are being elevated on new foundations

– openings in foundation walls in accordance with published FEMA guidance

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Conclusions and Recommendations

Residential development

– elevation as it relates to new construction and adopting

freeboard requirement for additional protection

– substantial improvements and repair of substantially

damaged properties

– consideration of installing backflow prevention valves to

prevent avoidable flooding in buildings

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Conclusions and Recommendations

Critical Facilities

– site selection for new and replacement facilities

– location of equipment and utilities

– systematic reduction of inflows from major users

– staging of emergency equipment

Mitigation grant programs

– Acquisition

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Conclusions and Recommendations

Floodplain management

– flood risk communication

– promotion of the National Flood Insurance Program

Community Rating System

– sources of debris in the floodplain

– locally run programs to fund mitigation projects

– flood insurance and mapping

FEMA Building Science

Flood/Wind Building Science Helpline:

FEMA-BuildingScienceHelp@dhs.gov

(866) 927-2104

http://www.FEMA.gov/Rebuild/BuildingScience