Rhode Island Flooding

CWCB ProposedFloodplain Rules and Regulations

Lessons Learned:Rhode Island Flooding – April 2010

Rhode Island - April 1, 2010

“Nobody Was Prepared” -CNN, April 1, 2010

Rhode Island - April 1, 2010“And with a half-dozen sewage treatment plants

compromised or overwhelmed by the most destructive flood in the state’s recorded history, officials braced for an environmental disaster with huge public health and financial ramifications.”

“In Warwick, city officials said it could be as long as two weeks before sewer systems are fully operating again. The city’s wastewater treatment facility is currently inundated with 78 million gallons of polluted water which must be pumped out before the plant can begin treating sewage.”

Source: Providence Journal April 1, 2010

Rhode Island April 1, 2010“Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian issued an executive order

shutting down the city’s coin-operated laundries after learning several had ignored his pleas to restrict water use. And a similar message went out to the city’s health clubs, which had offered free showers to homeowners.”

“Avedisian said he would not order any businesses closed but would shut down their rest rooms until the sewer system is fully operating. Carcieri said he had heard of some Warwick restaurants remaining open by offering bottled water and food on paper plates.”


Rhode Island April 1, 2010All this damage was caused

by a 200-Year Flood Event.

Unprotected Wastewater Treatment Plant

Rhode Island April 1, 2010“The flooding occurred at a fragile time in Rhode Island’s

retail climate, waterlogging the cautious optimism that had begun to creep into the industry after several years of sluggish sales and low consumer confidence.”

“While anxious business owners waited for the surge to recede late Wednesday, industry experts began taking stock of the damage. It could take weeks before they know how many businesses were affected and still more to put a price tag on the wreckage. Some stores could remain closed for months.”


Rhode Island April 1, 2010“Anuj Arora's house doesn't sit in a flood zone and isn't covered by

flood insurance, but the structure couldn't escape the deluge. The floodwaters inundating Rhode Island this week soaked the floors and walls of Arora's split-level ranch house in West Warwick.

"I talked to some of my neighbors. They are in similar situations. No one out here has flood insurance," said Arora, 30, a hotel manager who lives in the house with his wife.

"I'm looking at several thousand dollars in expenses, and with a new baby on the way, I don't know how we're going to do it all."

Source: CNN April 1, 2010How will this flood hinder economic recovery?

Rhode Island April 1, 2010“Woonsocket Democratic Rep. Jon D. Brien and Tiverton Republican Rep. John J. Loughlin II, also a candidate for Congress, plan to introduce legislation later in the week that would give families a onetime state income tax credit of $2,000. To qualify, victims must meet Federal Emergency Management Agency standards and have uninsured losses greater than $10,000.”“Already, we are learning of thousands of new jobless claims in the aftermath of the flooding,” Costantino wrote. “With the fiscal year end fast approaching, the state has little time to solve any new budget deficits that arise from the lost revenues and added costs of this disaster.”


Rhode Island April 1, 2010““This flood has literally put thousands of Rhode Islanders underwater, but if we don’t act quickly, the recovery costs from this natural disaster will burden Rhode Island taxpayers for generations to come,” Caprio said in a statement.


How do events in Rhode Island relate to Colorado?

100-year floods (1% annual chance) are based on probability, and have the same chance of occurring anywhere in the country.The last decade in Colorado has not been characterized by major floods, but it can and will happen here.

Examples of Devastating Past Flood Events

10’s – Cherry Creek in Denver ($161 million, 2 deaths)20’s – Arkansas River at Pueblo ($1.02 billion, 78 deaths)30’s – Monument Creek ($69 million, 18 deaths)50’s – Purgatoire River at Trinidad ($48 million, 2 deaths)60’s – South Platte River in Denver ($2.95 billion, 8 deaths)70’s – Big Thompson Canyon ($114 million, 144 deaths)80’s – Heavy Snowmelt Runoff 1984 ($63 million, 2 deaths)90’s – Fort Collins, Sterling, Lower Arkansas River ($518 million, 6 deaths)00’s - NOTHING

All $ values are in 2010 $Since 1900, the AVERAGE annual flood losses in

Colorado is over $50 million. 300 lives have been lost.

Question: When was the last time a flood in excess of 100-year event

was recorded in Fort Collins?

Answer: August 2, 20075.12 inches of rain fell in SW Fort Collins in just over 4 hours, which is 40% higher than City’s 100-year, 2-hour storm event.

College Ave

Drake Rd

Taft Hill Rd

Timberline Rd

Flood of August 2, 2007“The storm travelled northeast dropping rain in excess of the 100-year event in the southwest portion of town, with rainfall depths easily exceeding the 25-year event along the main storm track. The fact that relatively little damage was reported due to the storm in the Spring Creek and Fossil Creek Basins indicates that the City’s flood prevention measures generally worked adequately.”

Source: 2007 Flood Documentation Report, CWCB

END OF PRESENTATION

Rhode Island Flooding

Documents

Transcript of Rhode Island Flooding