The mission of the Flood Control Department is to ensure that property damage due to river flooding is minimal by the continual monitoring of the early flood warning system ensuring that it is operational; upgrading our flood fighting strategies; maintaining our 11 plus miles of flood protection structures; and buying properties in the floodplain mitigating flood damages and creating storage for flood waters.
One of the Flood Control Department's main functions is to monitor wet weather conditions and river levels daily. In 2007 the early flood warning system was upgraded from ALERT radio protocol to SCADA. This upgrade expanded the 16 site system to 31 sites. Included in the 31 site system are 10 level or stage sensors; 29 precipitation or rain sensors; and 6 temperature sensors.
The National Weather Service uses the data from this system to create public flood watches and warnings and predict crests during flooding emergencies. The City of Fort Wayne uses this data to develop our flood fighting strategies for the areas of the City that do not have permanent flood protection.
Flood Control coordinates the operations and maintenance of the $50 million Flood Control Project in conjunction with the Army Corps of Engineers.Flood Control is responsible for maintaining approximately 11 plus miles of flood walls, levees and all other structures involved with protecting the City's residents and businesses
The Flood Control Department coordinates all studies done through the Army Corps of Engineers and oversees construction of said projects.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides federally backed flood insurance that encourages communities to enact and enforce floodplain regulations. Fort Wayne has participated the Communicty Rating System voluntary program since 1991 and saves its citizens 10% a year in their flood insurance premiums.
Under the Community Rating System (CRS), there is an incentive for communities to do more than just regulate consturction of new building to minimum national standards. Under the CRS, flood insurance premiums are adjusted to reflect community activities that reduce flood damage to existing strucutures, protect new construction, help real estate and insurance agents obtain flood data, and help citizens obtain flood insurance.
The objective of the CRS is to reward communities that are doing more than meeting the minimum NFIP requirements to help their citizens prevent or reduce flood losses. The CRS also provides an incentive for communities to initiate new flood protection activities. The goal of the CRS is to encourage, by the use of flood insurance premium adjustments, community and state activities beyond those required by the NFIP to:
Reduce flood losses
Protect public health and safety
Reduce damage to buildings and contents
Prevent increases to flood damage from new construction
Reduce the risk of erosion damage
Protect natural and beneficial floodplain functions
Facilitate accurate insurance rating
Promote the awareness of flood insurance
Fort Wayne has participated in this voluntary program since 1991 and saves its citizens 10% a year on their flood insurance premiums. More importantly, this program is also dedicated to the education of everyone who lives in the "Three Rivers" region on flood safety and flood awareness.
For more information of the Community Rating System and specific information regarding flood awareness and flood preparedness, contact the Flood Control Manager at (260)427-1172.
For more information on the NFIP and flood related topics, try the following websites:
The Maumee River Basin Commission (MRBC) was established by Indiana Legislature in 1986 as a regional flood mitigation entity comprised of Allen, Adams, Dekalb, Noble and Steuben counties, which comprise the Maumee River Basin in Indiana. The Commission's primary mission is to assist communitites in Northeast Indiana by providing asssistance and guidance in implementing flood damage reduction projects. The MRBC has partnered with the City of Fort Wayne on numerous flood damage reduction projects and assisted in acquiring several million dollars in Federal grant funds to purchase flood damaged homes.
The City Council Flood Subcommittee meets the last Tuesday of each month in the Omni Room of the City County Building to discuss flooding issues. The Flood Subcommittee consists of the following city council members, John Shoaf, Tim Pape, Tom Didier, and Tom Smith. For more information, please contact John Shoaf at 459-0221.
The Volunteer Center @RSVP keeps the list of volunteers to be called up for sandbagging in the case of flooding in Fort Wayne. If you are interested in being on the list, please click here to send an email:
Please include your name, address and all phone numbers INCLUDING cell phone if you have one. You can read more about the activities of the Volunteer Center @ RSVP by going to their website (www.volunteercenterfw.org). You can also contact the Center by phone at 424-3505.
