The City of Staunton is working to draft its first-ever flood resiliency plan with the assistance of Wylie Wilson, engineers who identified structural concerns under the Wharf Lot.
According to Staunton Environmental Programs Administrator Willow Hughes, city staff are working “to provide a sort of holistic look at the flood issues a community faces” and to determine a flood response. Wylie Wilson will help identify flood-prone areas within the city’s limits.
“So, ultimately, this plan will give us a better idea of what sort of flooding threats the city as a whole faces,” Hughes said.
The plan will identify the city’s natural hazards and vulnerabilities to flooding and lay out a framework for the best projects and/or studies that would enhance the city’s flood control and resiliency. The primary goal of the plan is to prepare Staunton for increased incidents of urban flooding.
However, the flood resiliency plan is not to be confused with the city’s flood study, which was conducted by Wylie Wilson at the Wharf Lot after the two floods in 2020. The flood resiliency plan will be for the entire city, and provide education and an improved alert system, not just based on engineer recommendations.
“We don’t yet know what projects will be identified, but they will be the best and most feasible projects for us going forward,” Hughes said.
A steering committee is currently being formed to lead efforts to create the plan.
A flood resiliency plan will enable the city to apply for certain grant funding.
“And that’s kind of the driving force on why we’re trying to move so quickly is because it could open up grants, particularly for the Wharf,” Hughes said.
The first community event for the flood resiliency plan will be held in mid-June.
Hughes said that city staff hope to complete the flood resiliency plan in nine months.
Related stories:
Staunton: City responds to infrastructure concerns with new entrance to Wharf Lot
Staunton: Unknown cost of Wharf Lot tunnel improvements requires city tax increase
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Rebecca Barnabi
