Levees are in the Flood Plain...

Most major levees protecting urban areas were built to US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) standards. BUT-- recent history and the reputation of USACE have lead to the common misconception that areas protected by levees are outside the floodplain -- they are not; they are in (the floodplain)! As a levee sponsor, it is important to you that the communities and local governments you serve know which areas are protected by levees and understand the demands and limitations of the levee systems, which may include:

All levees are designed to protect against a particular flood level and are prone to overtopping in more severe events.

• Levees require comprehensive maintenance programs, which become more of a challenge as the system gets older.
• Levees may require significant preparation before they will provide the anticipated protection in a specific flood event.
• May fail to live up to its design.

When a levee system fails or is overtopped, the results can be more damaging in the local area than if the levee were not there, due to increased elevation differences and water velocity. Unrealistic expectations of protection also may exist: no levee provides protection from events it was not designed for, and proper operation and maintenance are necessary to reduce the probability of failure. As a levee sponsor you are the key to effective maintenance and preparation for flood events. Your community needs to understand the potential consequences of levee failure, and appreciate the challenges you face, so it can provide the support you need.

Why does the sponsor need to make the community aware of the location of the levee?

Areas protected by levee systems are not always easily identified. Many levees across the country were built decades ago and form a familiar part of the landscape. In areas without recent flooding, there may be limited knowledge of the system. Levees also may not be shown on FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), because they are typically not considered to be in "Special Flood Hazard Areas" and prone to regular flooding.

Why should the community be concerned about being protected by a levee?

Citizens may not know that it often requires advance planning, significant resources, and specific, timely actions to make the levee system ready for a "flood fight". For example, roads and railroads passing through the levee often need to be closed, and utilities may be affected. Disruption of transportation and utilities may force local businesses to close, and their owners may be angry. Routine public education efforts directed at the affected homes and businesses will help communities and citizens plan in advance to handle these contingencies.

Levee systems are designed to protect against a specific flood level. If the flood level exceeds the level for which the levee was designed, it may fail or be overtopped. It is important for citizens to understand what may happen if the levee system fails or is overtopped. Citizens need to be aware of the possibility of flooding, which areas of the community may be flooded, how the public will receive notice of impending flooding, and how they should respond if, for any reason, the levee fails to protect them.

What kinds of questions should a levee sponsor be able to answer for its community?

The levee sponsor should ensure that the local community is aware of the areas protected by levee systems and be able to provide confidence in their ability to protect these areas from flooding.

Some of the key questions include:

1. Areas protected.

2. The location of the levee.

3. What level of flooding the levee system is designed to control.

4. The sponsor's readiness for a "flood fight" is one becomes necessary.

• Staffing
• Training
• Resources

5. The likely impact of the sponsor's "flood fight" plans on the community, including its transportation and utility.

6. The areas most likely to flood if the flood event exceeds the levee design or if the levee fails, and how much warning the sponsor expects it can provide. What level of flooding the levee system is designed to control.

7. How the community and its citizens can help the sponsor by supporting the sponsor's management or providing resources to supplement the maintenance or flood fight plans.

It may also be appropriate to provide the following information:

1.Who the sponsor is and where it gets its financial support.

2. To whom the sponsor is accountable.

3. A description of the local levee system: age, length, height, material from which it was constructed, etc.

4. Historical flood events and how they compare to the level of flooding the levee is designed to control.

5. The levee's state of maintenance, whether maintenance funds are adequate, and if not, what steps are taken to ensure continued high-caliber maintenance

6. The sponsor's contingency plans, to the extent they can be divulged without compromising security.

7. The levee's known shortcomings and what the sponsor is doing to remedy them.

Support and information is available at the Flood Risk Education Alliance (FREA) web site, which is accessible through www.ibhs.org. The FREA web site provides links to other fine sources of information. In any case, help your citizens and business owners develop a heightened awareness of the residual risk in being behind a levee. Candor and close working relationships with others in your community will assist the Levee Sponsor keep communities well protected.