Floodproofing a home can sound intimidating to the average homeowner, evoking images of expensive steps such as raising a house several feet above ground level.
But there are many smaller actions people can take to make their homes more resilient, said Kathie Angle, chief of civil design for Newport News.
The city is launching an initiative to help homeowners learn about and potentially pay for some of these measures down the line. .
Flooding is one of the top complaints city officials hear, especially as warming climate conditions increase rainfall and drive tides higher, Angle said.
But larger-scale projects to upgrade outdated stormwater infrastructure take time and can’t immediately reach every area of the city.
“Citizens want flooding addressed,” she said. “We really wanted to do some more programs that would help citizens help themselves.”
The new program, called Flood Ready Homes, is modeled after a similar one in Washington, D.C.
Newport News recently received a nearly $930,000 grant through Virginia’s Community Flood Preparedness Fund, which is distributing revenue earned through the state’s former participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The city will cover the remaining $103,000 of the project cost.
The first phase of the three-year program covers 150 home flood assessments throughout the city, prioritizing high-risk flood zones and socially vulnerable communities.
Consultants will evaluate each home, such as its foundation, elevation, electrical and water systems.
Then they’ll draft recommendations specific to that home, such as raising HVAC equipment to a higher floor, adding flood vents to the foundation or buying sump pumps for the basement, many of which can reduce the property’s flood insurance premium.
Participating homes will also receive an elevation certificate, which is often required for flood insurance in high-risk areas but can be costly to obtain.
Angle said the city hopes to get more grants to carry out a second phase of the program, which would help homeowners pay for the recommended work.
Floodproofing strategies won’t eliminate flooding issues, especially in extreme events such as a hurricane, Angle said. But each dollar invested can pay off roughly fourfold by reducing financial damages after the fact.
At the wider level, Newport News is also working to finalize master plans for managing the floodplain, stormwater and resilience.
