Corps to Host Meramec Flood Risk Reduction Workshops

Published Oct. 18, 2017
ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, in partnership with the St. Louis County Council and the City of Eureka will host two public workshops on Meramec Flood Risk Reduction on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, 11715 Cragwold Road, Kirkwood, Mo., from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 2, at the Eureka Fire District Training Center, 18765 Old Hwy 66, Pacific, Mo., 63069, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

The meeting will include presentations from the National Nonstructural Flood Proofing Committee highlighting information on flood risk and U.S. trends in flooding, nonstructural flood proofing techniques, and potential resources for managing flood risk. USACE and Nonstructural Flood Proofing Committee experts will be available for questions leading up to and following formal presentations.

“Homes, businesses and infrastructure in the Lower Meramec basin have been significantly impacted by two recent floods of record,” said Shawn Sullivan, Strategic Planning coordinator for the St. Louis District. “This workshop will provide a great opportunity for Lower Meramec basin stakeholders to learn more about practical flood risk reduction solutions.”

There are a number of physical and nonphysical nonstructural flood proofing techniques which may be considered by communities for reducing their overall flood risk. Physical measures allow individual buildings to adapt to the natural characteristics of the floodplain so that there may be a reduction in future flood damages. Typical physical nonstructural flood proofing techniques are acquisition, relocation, elevation, and dry/wet flood proofing. Nonphysical nonstructural measures include floodplain mapping, flood warning systems, emergency action plans, land use regulations, evacuation plans, risk communication and flood insurance. These measures provide individuals at-risk of flooding knowledge of and actions to counter the flood threat to limit damages and prevent loss of life.

“We must continue to identify flood risk, communicate flood risk, and leverage resources and tools to mitigate flood risk. Flood risk management truly is a shared responsibility and the current limitations to funding and resources requires each of us to be more collaborative in our partnerships and innovative in our efforts to eliminate flood risk,” said Randy Behm, chair of the National Nonstructural Flood Proofing Committee.

For more information visit the St. Louis District website at, http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/,

St. Louis District Facebook at, www.facebook.com/teamsaintlouis.

Contact
Amanda Kruse
314-331-8095
Amanda.L.Kruse@usace.army.mil

Release no. 17-079