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Page 1 of 4 C:\Users\ematilla\Desktop\Floodplain Outreach 20.doc The City of Eagle Flood Protection Information Flooding in our city is caused by two sources: Dry Creek and the Boise River. These waterways can leave their banks during heavy storms, snowmelt or ice jams. Floodwaters can cover many blocks up to four or five feet deep. Floodwater can cover streets and yards and can flood cars, garages, basements and lower floors. Flooding in both areas can come with little warning. Floods are dangerous. Even though they appear to move slowly (three feet per second), a flood two feet deep can knock a man off his feet and float a car. Your property may be high enough that it was not flooded recently. However, it can still be flooded in the future because the next flood could be worse. If you are in the floodplain, the odds are that someday your property will be damaged. This article gives you some ideas of what you can do to protect yourself. City Flood Services: The first thing you should do is check your flood hazard. Flood maps and flood protection references are available at the Eagle Public Library. You can also visit the Planning and Zoning Department at City Hall to see if you are in a mapped floodplain. If so, they can give you more information, such as depth of flooding over a building's first floor and past flood problems in the area. If requested the city’s Floodplain Administrator will visit a property to review its flood problem and explain ways to stop flooding or prevent flood damage. Call the Planning and Zoning Department at 939-0227 to schedule a site visit. These services are free. If you are in a floodplain or have had a flood or drainage problem, check out these sources of assistance. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 of 4 C:\Users\ematilla\Desktop\Floodplain Outreach 20.doc What You Can Do: Several of the City's efforts depend on your cooperation and assistance. Here is how you can help: Drainage: • Do not dump or throw anything into the ditches or streams. Even grass clippings and branches can accumulate and plug the channels. A plugged channel cannot carry water and when it rains the water has to go somewhere. Every piece of trash contributes to flooding. • If your property is next to a ditch or stream, please do your part and keep the banks clear of brush and debris. • If you see dumping or debris in the ditches or streams, contact the Sheriff's Office at 938-2260. Permits: • Always check with the Building Department before you build on, alter, regrade, or fill on your property. A permit may be needed to ensure that projects do not cause problems on other properties. • If you see building or filling without a City permit sign posed, contact the Building Dept. at 489-8730 or the Planning and Zoning Dept at 939-0227. Check out the following information on floodproofing, flood insurance and flood safety. Floodproofing: There are several different ways to protect a building from flood damage. One way is to keep the water away by regrading your lot or building a small floodwall or earthen berm. These methods work if your lot is large enough, if flooding is not too deep, and if your property is not in the floodway. The Building Department can provide this information. Another approach is to make you walls waterproof and place watertight closures over the doorways. This method is not recommended for houses with basements or if water will get over two feet deep. Many houses, even those not in the floodplain, have sewers that back up into the basement during heavy rains. A plug or standpipe can stop this if the water doesn't get more than one or two feet deep. They can be purchased at a hardware store for under $25. For deeper sewer backup flooding, talk to a plumber about overhead sewers or a backup valve. These measures are called floodproofing or retrofitting. More information is available at the Eagle Public Library. Important Note: Any alteration to your building or land requires a permit from the Building Department. Even regrading or filling in the floodplain requires a permit. Advances have been made in foundation venting. Crawl space venting can be retrofitted to allow the free passage of water under the building. In many instances premiums for flood insurance policies can be reduced with this type of system. Please contact the City for more detailed information. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 3 of 4 C:\Users\ematilla\Desktop\Floodplain Outreach 20.doc If you know a flood is coming, you should shut off the gas and electricity and move valuable contents upstairs. It is unlikely you will get much warning, so a detailed checklist prepared in advance would help ensure that you don't forget anything. Flood Insurance: If you don't have flood insurance, talk to your insurance agent. Homeowner's insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. However, because Eagle participated in the National Flood Insurance Program, you can purchase a separate flood insurance policy. This insurance is backed up by the Federal government and is available to everyone, even for properties that have been flooded. Some people have purchased flood insurance because the bank required it when they got a mortgage or home improvement loan. Usually these policies just cover the building's structure and not the contents. During the kind of flooding that happens in Eagle, there is usually more damage to the furniture and contents than there is to the structure. The number of flood insurance policies in Eagle has been on the rise due to the high water period in May of 2017. If you are covered, check out the amount and make sure you have contents coverage. Remember: Even if the last flood missed you or you have done some floodproofing, the next flood could be worse. Flood insurance covers all surface floods. About the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) • Established by Congress in 1968 • Identifies and maps flood-prone communities • Requires that communities adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations • Provides Flood Insurance • Insurance is available through insurance agents and participating NFIP insurance companies • 4.8 million policyholders nationwide • Over 20,000 participating communities nationwide Flood Safety Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths, mostly during flash floods. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If you walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to ensure that the ground is still there. Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Do not drive around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed out. Stay away from power lines and electrical wires: The number two-flood killer after drowning is electrocution. Electrical current can travel through water. Report downed power lines to Idaho Power Company or the City emergency management office. Have your electricity turned off by the Power Company: Some appliances, such as television sets, keep electrical charges even after they have been unplugged. Don't use appliances or motors that have gotten wet unless they have been taken apart, cleaned, and dried. Look out for animals, especially snakes: Small animals that have been flooded out of their homes may seek shelter in yours. Use a pole or stick to poke and turn things over and scare away small animals. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 4 of 4 C:\Users\ematilla\Desktop\Floodplain Outreach 20.doc Look before you step: After a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris including broken bottles and nails. Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be very slippery. Be alert for gas leaks: Use a flashlight to inspect for damage. Don't smoke or use candles, lanterns, or open flames unless you know the gas has been turned off and the area has been ventilated.