City of Portsmouth, Virginia 2015 Floodplain Management and Repetitive Loss Plan Update August 2015 This page left blank Picture on cover: Paradise Creek is a 40 acre park-in-progress in the heart of a working harbor. It is the cornerstone project of a unique and innovative 250 acre conservation site on the Elizabeth River. The park is a partnership of the Elizabeth River Project, the City of Portsmouth, and the Virginia Port Authority. It has 2.3 miles of trails, 11 acres of restored tidal wetlands, pervious parking spaces that absorb rainwater runoff, a 275’ pedestrian footbridge, an “Earthworks Mound”, and landscaping to revitalize 29 acres of urban forest with native trees, shrubs and flowers. The park opened to the public on Dec.28, 2012. www.paradisecreeknaturepark.com Acknowledgements City Council Kenneth I. Wright, Mayor Elizabeth M. Psimas, Vice Ma yo r William E. Moody, Jr. Paige D. Cherry Marlene W. Randall Dr. Curtis E. Edmonds, Sr. Danny W. Meeks Dr. Mark Whitaker City Manager J. Brannon Godfrey, Jr. 2014 – 2015 Floodplain Management Plan Task Force City Staff Fred Brusso, Director of Neighborhood Advancement Meg Pittenger, Neighborhood Advancement Bernadette Hogge, Assistant Director of Neighborhood Advancement Bob Baldwin, Director of Planning Brian Swets, Planning James Wright, City Engineer Youssef Khalil, Director of Public Works Doug Smith, Building Official Andy Winz, GIS Manager Cliff Sayles, GIS Technician Spence Campbell, Fire Department EMS LaVoris Pace, Director of Marketing and Communications Dana Woodson, Public Information Officer Dee Wright, Senior Management Analyst, Office of the City Manager Wendy Voliva, Marketing and Communications Other Agency Staff Cyndi Wyskiewicz, Virginia Cooperative Extension Richard Neefe, Portsmouth Public Schools Michelle Covi, Old Dominion University, Virginia Sea Grant Brian Donahue, Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority Doug Taylor, NAVFAC MIDLANT, (Norfolk Naval Shipyard) William Dufault, Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads (Naval Medical Center) Erik Johnson, Craney Island Brian Ballard, NAVFAC MIDLANT Region Michelle Hamor, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Citizens Rusty Long, Historic Preservation Commission Peter Youngblood, Olde Towne Jean Bondy, Cradock Emily Egginton, Port Norfolk Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, Churchland Bill Hargrove, HBA and Towne Bank Hampton Roads Realtors Association Josh Clark, Tidewater Builders Association Sarah McCoy, Port of Virginia Reggie Allen, Brighton/P rentis Park Preston Vaughan, Lee Ward/North Brighton Media Aaron Applegate, The Virginian-Pilot This report was prepared for the City of Portsmouth by The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District under the Flood Plain Management Services Program City of Portsmouth, Virginia 2015 Floodplain Management and Repetitive Loss Plan Update Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................4 PURPOSE..........................................................................................................................................4 1. ORGANIZE ...................................................................................................................................6 Authority........................................................................................................................................ 6 Location ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Background/History ........................................................................................................................ 7 Existing Conditions......................................................................................................................... 8 2. INVOLVE THE PUBLIC................................................................................................................9 The Portsmouth Floodplain Management Plan Task Force................................................................. 9 Public Input .................................................................................................................................... 9 3. COORDINATE ............................................................................................................................ 11 Physical ....................................................................................................................................... 11 Commercia l.................................................................................................................................. 11 Federal ......................................................................................................................................... 12 Marit ime ...................................................................................................................................... 13 Medical ........................................................................................................................................ 14 Residentia l ................................................................................................................................... 14 Schools ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Power Generation ......................................................................................................................... 15 Water Systems .............................................................................................................................. 15 Transportation .............................................................................................................................. 15 Impact on Public Facilities ............................................................................................................ 17 4. ASSESS THE HAZARD/ REVIEW THE PROBLEM ................................................................ 18 Background .................................................................................................................................. 18 Portsmouth’s Flooding History ...................................................................................................... 19 Floodplain Regulations Development ............................................................................................. 23 State and Local Flood Risk Management Activit ies ......................................................................... 25 Floodplain Management Financial Aspects ..................................................................................... 28 Insurance Premiums .................................................................................................................. 28 Flood Damages ......................................................................................................................... 29 Grants....................................................................................................................................... 29 Relative Sea Level Rise................................................................................................................. 30 Land Loss ................................................................................................................................. 32 Storms and Flooding.................................................................................................................. 34 Responses to Sea Level Rise along the Coast .............................................................................. 34 Repetitive Loss Properties ............................................................................................................. 35 Severe Repetitive Loss Structures .................................................................................................. 36 5. SET GOALS ................................................................................................................................ 38 General ........................................................................................................................................ 38 Economic Development ................................................................................................................ 39 Infrastructure ................................................................................................................................ 39 Environmental Quality .................................................................................................................. 39 Repetitive Losses .......................................................................................................................... 39 6. DRAFT AN ACTION PLAN ........................................................................................................ 40 Floodplain Management Plan ........................................................................................................ 40 Past Accomplishments .................................................................................................................. 40 Floodplain Management Plan Actions ............................................................................................ 41 7. ADOPT THE PLAN ....................................................................................................................