Did You Know? Available Assistance Floodplain from the City. The City pays special attention to any potential City personnel are available to make site visits, Management development and redevelopment within the free of charge, to assist City of Griffin residents in floodplain. Before any development or flood protection, drainage issues and any site improvement to your property (building of any specific flooding issues within the Community. structure, grading, or filling with any materials) The City’s Geographic Information Services can start, the Planning and Zoning Department Division has the capabilities to produce maps of should be contacted to ensure there are no permits the Community depicting structures and the 100 required. Permits are required in some instances year floodplain to assist in determining if your to prevent losses to downstream properties from home is located within the floodplain. If you increased flood waters. In the case of would like any additional information on flooding, redevelopment, any “substantial improvement”, flood insurance, flood zones, retrofitting your including repairs to a structure with “substantial home to protect from flooding or if you would like damage”, is subjected to the same requirements as to obtain an elevation certificate please check out Even though the City of Griffin (City) is not new buildings. A “substantial improvement” or the Flint River regional Library, our website located near a major river, there are still areas of “substantial damage” is defined as any building www.cityofgriffin.com , or call the City of Griffin the City that lie within a floodplain and have the where any combination of repairs, reconstruction, Stormwater Department at 770-229-6424. potential to flood. Along sections of Shoal Creek, alteration, or improvements to a building, taking Cabin Creek, Grape Creek and Ison Branch are place during a 10-year period, in which the floodplains, which are low lying areas that are cumulative cost equals or exceeds 50 percent of prone to flooding during periods of heavy rain. the market value of the building prior to the The last major flood to hit Griffin occurred during improvements. If you notice any building or 1994 when flood waters disrupted essential development of any type without a City permit government services, damaged critical structures sign posted, contact the Planning and Zoning and caused transportation delays due to flooded Department at: 770-233-4130. streets. Since then, the City has taken steps to reduce the impacts from flooding.
City of Griffin, Stormwater Division 100 S. Hill Street, P.O. Box T Griffin, GA 30224, (770) 229-6424 www.cityofgriffin.com
What is a Floodplain? Flood Safety Tips.
Floodplains are natural areas that help reduce In times of flooding it is very important to put Drainage Protection flood water velocities and improve water quality safety first. Turn off the gas and electricity to your and Maintenance. by slowing down the water and allowing sediment home to help reduce the potential of additional to settle out and be deposited in the floodplain. damages. Move valuable paperwork and objects The disposing of any material that is not 100 The sediment that drops out of water has nutrients to higher elevations in your home (second floor or percent stormwater down a storm drain or directly and other pollutants attached to it that plants can on top of shelves). Bring any outdoor items such into a creek or stream within the City of Griffin is take up and use, further aiding water quality. In as lawn furniture and toys inside your home or against City Ordinances. Even materials such as addition to slowing down the velocity of flood garage so they do not become a floating hazard grass clippings, leaves or fallen branches have the waters, the floodplain also allows water to slowly and possibly clog storm drains or creeks. Stay potential to increase the severity of floods by filter through the ground which further reduces the clear of all power lines and electrical wires. If you clogging the creek or reducing the volume of water volume of stormwater. It is important to not fill in are going to leave your home, be sure to bring all that can be carried down the creek. If your areas of the floodplain and reduce their ability to necessary medication with you. While leaving property is along a ditch or creek, please do your hold flood waters. These areas are very important your home, be cautious of flood waters and limit part and inspect your property and keep the banks to reduce the volume and improve the quality of walking or driving through flood waters. Six clear of fallen woody debris. If you ever see flood waters. Floodplains are very effective at inches of flowing flood water has the potential to someone dumping anything into a creek or storm treating flood water and the use of the floodplain is knock over a person and only two feet of water is drain or if you find large debris dams in a creek, much more cost effective than building structures enough to float a vehicle and wash it downstream. please contact the Stormwater Department at to hold and treat stormwater. The largest 770-229-6424. Flood safety tips to remember: connected floodplain within the city limits is along Grape Creek west of Macon Rd. near the Never try to walk or drive through flood waters. It is always safest to turn around intersection with E. College St. and along Ison and find another route to your destination. Branch near the intersections of Maple Dr. with Place outdoor items like lawn furniture Wesley Rd. and Four Oaks Dr. inside so they do not float away. Turn off the electricity and gas to reduce additional damages. If you are forced to leave your home due to flooding, remember that wild animals are also being forced from their homes and may be in unexpected areas. The facts show: Flood insurance is the prudent choice. Flood insurance from the NFIP puts you in control. You won’t have to wait in line to apply for disaster assistance. Homeowners, business owners, and renters can all buy flood insurance, as long their community participates in the NFIP. Flood insurance claims are paid even if a disaster is not declared by the President. Claims are The risk of flooding is real. paid promptly, so flood victims Don’t gamble any longer. can recover quickly. If you file National Flood Insurance Program a flood insurance claim, you may also request an advance For more information about the NFIP and What You Need to partial payment for your flood insurance, call Know about Federal immediate needs. 1-800-427-4661 or contact your insurance company or agent. Disaster Assistance Flood insurance reimburses you for all covered losses. For an agent referral, call and National Flood Homeowners can buy up to 1-888-435-6637 TDD 1-800-427-5593 Insurance $250,000 of coverage; businesses, up to $500,000. Separate http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip contents coverage is available, so http://www.floodsmart.gov renters can also buy protection.
F-001 FEMA B-689 (9/09) When it comes to Answers to Common Misconceptions about Flood Insurance flood insurance, do "Who needs flood insurance? If my home or business is ever you have feelings flooded, disaster assistance will like these? bail me out." THE FACTS ARE: • Before most forms of federal disaster assistance can be offered, the President must declare a major disaster. • The most common form of federal disaster assistance is a loan, which must be paid "Who needs flood back with interest. • The average federal Individuals and insurance? If my Households Program (IHP) award is home or business is around $4,000. • To qualify for federal Home Repair ever flooded, disaster Assistance, your home must have relatively "We’re not going to be flooded. assistance will bail minor damage that can be repaired quickly. This area has never been flooded." me out." • You don’t qualify for federal Rental Assistance unless your home has been THE FACTS ARE: heavily damaged or destroyed. • Floods are the most common, and most "Flood insurance is "Flood insurance is costly, natural disaster. too expensive." too expensive." • In the past several years, about 60 percent of all declared disasters involved flooding. THE FACTS ARE: • Because more roads, buildings, and parking lots are being constructed where forests and • The average duration of a U.S. Small meadows once stood, floods are becoming Business Administration (SBA) disaster "We’re not going to be more severe throughout the U.S. flooded. This area has home loan is 30 years. • The recipient of a $50,000 SBA residential • In areas with the greatest risk of flooding, never been flooded." disaster loan must pay back about $240 a Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), a month at four percent interest. building has a 26 percent chance of being flooded during a 30-year mortgage. • The average premium for federally backed flood insurance through the National • Approximately 25 percent of all flood Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is about insurance claims paid by the NFIP are for $500 a year. property outside of SFHAs.
Public Works and Utilities 100 S. Hill Street-P.O. Box T | Griffin, GA 30224 P 770-229-6603 F 678-692-0392 W cityofgriffin.com
October, 2013 Even though the City of Griffin (City) is not located near a major river, there are still areas of the City that lie within a floodplain and have the potential to flood. Along sections of Shoal, Cabin and Grape Creeks and Ison Branch exists floodplains which are low lying areas that are prone to flooding during periods of heavy rain. The last major flood to hit Griffin occurred during 1994 when flood waters disrupted essential government services, damaged critical structures and caused transportation delays due to flooded streets. Since then, the City has taken steps to reduce the impacts from flooding. Floodplains are natural areas that help reduce flood water velocities which, allows water to slow down and sediment to drop out of the water, improving the water quality of the City. The sediment that drops out of water has nutrients and other pollutants attached to it that plants can take up and use, further aiding water quality. In addition to slowing down the velocity of flood waters, the floodplain also allows water to slowly filter through the ground which further reduces the volume of stormwater. It is important to not fill in areas of the floodplain and reduce their ability to hold flood waters. These areas are very important to reduce the volume and improve the quality of flood waters. Floodplains are very effective at treating flood water and the use of floodplain is much more cost effective than building structures to hold and treat stormwater. The largest connected floodplain within City limits is along Grape Creek west of Macon Rd. near the intersection with E. College St. and along Ison Branch near the intersections of Maple Dr. with Wesley Rd. and 4 Oaks Dr. If your home is within a floodplain, it is important to take steps to protect your property from flooding. There are methods to permanently retrofit structures to help protect them from flooding. The most common ways to retrofit residential structures are to elevate the structure or wet-proof the structure. Buildings can be anchored to prevent floatation and sometimes walls can be strengthened to withstand the pressure of flood waters or the impact from floating objects on commercial properties. Property owners can also either raise electrical and HVAC systems so that they are above the floodplain or HVAC systems can be flood proofed to prevent damage. If there is a propane or other fuel tank on your property, they should be properly anchored into the ground so they cannot float away in flood waters and cause damage to nearby structures. In addition to outside damages, heavy rains can cause sewage to back up into basements of homes, even in areas outside of the floodplain. A floor drain plug, standpipe, or sewer backup valve can prevent sewer backup flooding and can be purchased at a hardware store for under $25. One of the most important steps that can be taken to protect your home and your belongings is to purchase Flood Insurance. Homeowner insurance policies do not cover damages from flooding and additional policies need to be purchased. However, because the City is now a Class 5 community in the Community Rating System, everyone can purchase a separate flood insurance policy backed by the Federal government at a reduced rate, even if their property has flooded before. Some people have purchased flood insurance because it was required by the bank when they got a mortgage or home improvement loan but these policies usually just cover the building’s structure and not the contents. Under most circumstances, it takes 30 days to write a flood insurance policy so, planning is essential for proper protection. More information on flood insurance is available at http://www.FloodSmart.gov. If you don’t have flood insurance, talk to your insurance agent or call (1-800-CALL-FLOOD, 1-800-225-5356).
Board Of Commissioners: Shaheer Beyah ● Cora Flowers ● Doug Holberg ● Ryan McLemore ● Dick Morrow ● Joanne Todd ● Cynthia Ward, Chairman
Public Works and Utilities 100 S. Hill Street-P.O. Box T | Griffin, GA 30224 P 770-229-6603 F 678-692-0392 W cityofgriffin.com
In times of flooding it is very important to put safety first. Turn off the gas and electricity to your home to help reduce the potential of additional damages. Move valuable paperwork and objects to higher elevations in your home (second floor or on top of shelves). Bring any outdoor items such as lawn furniture and toys inside your home or garage so, they do not become a floating hazard and possibly clog storm drains or creeks. Stay clear of all power lines and electrical wires. If you are going to leave your home, be sure to bring all necessary medication with you. While leaving your home, be cautious of flood waters and limit walking or driving through flood waters. Six inches of flowing flood water has the potential to knock over a person and only two feet of water is enough to float a vehicle and wash it downstream. The disposing of any material that is not 100 percent stormwater down a storm drain or directly into a creek or stream within the City of Griffin is against City Ordinances. Even materials such as grass clippings, leaves or fallen branches have the potential to increase the severity of floods by clogging the creek or reducing the volume of water that can be carried down the creek. If your property is along a ditch or creek, please do your part and inspect your property and keep the banks clear of fallen woody debris. If you ever see someone dumping anything into a creek or storm drain or if you find large debris dams in a creek, please contact the Stormwater Department at 770-229-6424. The City pays special attention to any potential development and redevelopment within the floodplain. Before any development or improvement to your property (building of any structure or grading) can start the Planning and Zoning Department should be contacted to ensure there are no permits required. Permits are required in some instances to prevent losses to downstream properties from increased flood waters. In the case of redevelopment, any “substantial improvement”, including repairs to a structure with “substantial damage”, is subjected to the same requirements as new buildings. A “substantial improvement” or “substantial damage” is defined as any building where any combination of repairs, reconstruction, alteration, or improvements to a building, taking place during a 10-year period, in which the cumulative cost equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the building prior to the improvements. If you notice any building or development of any type without a City permit sign posted, contact the Planning and Zoning Department at 770-233-4130. City personnel are available to make site visits, free of charge, to assist City of Griffin residents in flood protection, drainage issues and any site specific flooding issues within the Community. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released new digital flood insurance rate maps (DFIRM) in May 2010. These new DFIRM publications show where the 100 year floodplain is and if your property is at an elevated risk of flooding. It is important to remember that flood waters cannot read a map and even if your home is not located within the floodplain there is still a risk of flooding. The City’s Geographic Information Services Division has the capabilities to produce maps of the Community depicting structures and the 100 year flood plain to assist in determining if your home is located within the floodplain. If you would like any additional information on flooding, flood insurance, flood zones, retrofitting your home to protect from flooding, assistance in determining if your home is in the 100 year floodplain or if you would like to obtain an elevation certificate please check out the Flint River regional Library, our website www.cityofgriffin.com/Departments/PublicWorks/Stormwater/FloodplainManagement.aspx, or call the City of Griffin Stormwater Department at 770-229-6424.
Board Of Commissioners: Shaheer Beyah ● Cora Flowers ● Doug Holberg ● Ryan McLemore ● Dick Morrow ● Joanne Todd ● Cynthia Ward, Chairman