Flood Wall???

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Permalink Reply by Kyle and Laura Miller on February 8, 2010 at 11:21pm

GREAT question. I've wondered about this ever since I moved here 5 years ago. Surprisingly, there is very little current detail about the status of the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) Project that would ultimately lead to a FEMA floodplain boundary revision. When I try to google info for the project, the most detail continues to come from this 2007 link:

http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DPW/Environment/CleanStream/Projects/...

At least here you can get the general plan for the project. It appears Phase IIIA and IIIC have been completed. Phase IIIB seems to be what's holding this up. I brought this question up during the January WNA meeting, and I look forward to any additional detail from the ACE. After 5 years I have resided to the fact that the federal government is in no immediate hurry to complete a project that would actually cause a decrease in revenue, so I'm not holding my breath for its completion. However if I do see the day a Letter of Map Revision is obtained and our flood insurance requirement is lifted, it will certainly feel like Christmas.

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Permalink Reply by Griff on February 8, 2010 at 11:50pm

2012 was the last I heard but you've seen or at least heard about the quality of
their work so how well would you sleep with no flood insurance?

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Permalink Reply by Robert Gunn on February 9, 2010 at 12:49am

The Rocky Ripple section needs to be completed, price tag $11million (I think that is the 2008 price). If I recall correctly, $4.5million has been appropriated for it so far. Apparently, this "shovel-ready" project didn't make the cut for the pork-u-lous, because it didn't get a dime. Why buy votes you don't need?

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Permalink Reply by Michael T on February 11, 2010 at 12:44pm

This information is a year old. I contacted John Oakley with the City (DMD or DPW, I can't recall) about this issue and here was his response.

The attached project Fact Sheet provides the most current information on the work and schedule. Submittal of the necessary plans and specifications to FEMA for modification of the flood hazard area designation will be made upon completion of the total project (2011). Once the submittal is made to FEMA, changes to the flood designation may take 12-18 months. Please note that the project schedule is contingent on the receipt of adequate funding from Congress.

And I don't think the project has yet been funded by Congress.

Attachments:

• Fact_Sheet_-_Indianapolis_North_Flood_Damage_Reduction_Project_nov_08.pdf, 314 KB

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Permalink Reply by Heather Lusk on February 12, 2010 at 8:34am

What I wonder is whether any of the stimulus money last year that went into other projects also went to help with this project. It would be nice to think that the state is prioritizing things that have already been started rather than putting money into new projects.

As for the flood plan, I believe it was originally supposed to be completed in 2005. The faint silver lining though is that as long as flood insurance exists in this area, it will be less appealing to random businesses and helps us preserve the neighborhood.

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Permalink Reply by Rita Hupp on February 13, 2010 at 12:12pm

I should think the BRVA should be able to keep us all abreast on this topic.Perhaps Elizabeth could come to one of our meetings to update us.

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Permalink Reply by Bridget & Chris Carson on February 22, 2010 at 7:20am

I emailed John Oakely at the Dept of Public Works (joakleyatindydotgov) for an update and he sent this fact sheet (attached). It's a nice timeline, however, John did say that completion is dependent upon appropriation of federal funds, and the money to finish it has not yet been approved. So, it's my read that this is on hold until more money comes through.

Attachments:

• Fact Sheet - Indianapolis North Flood Damage Reduction Project, 07-2009.pdf, 2 MB

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Permalink Reply by Bridget & Chris Carson on February 25, 2010 at 7:27am

I received a bit more info on the flood wall project from Dennis G. Papenmeier at the Dept of Public Works (see his message below) . The bottom line is that there is no guarantee that FEMA will drop our flood insurance requirements; the agency will make that determination once the flood wall project is completed, and that is still undetermined
.
Dennis writes "Here is the information that I received from staff regarding the impact of this project on the level of required flood insurance for parcels in this area:…once all phases of the project are complete, the expectation is that there will be a modification of the flood hazard designation for the lands protected. Under current protocols, the protected areas would be classified as an area of reduced flooding and flood insurance may not be required by the mortgage holder.


"Please note that FEMA, the agency that regulates and oversees production of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps, has the ability to still require some level of flood hazard designation for areas protected by flood works. In addition, due to the New Orleans/Gulf Coast disaster and recent court decisions, FEMA is recommending that areas behind levees be required to carry some level of flood insurance.

"So it appears that FEMA may still require SOME flood insurance, but that it may be reduced, due to the reclassification of the areas protected.


"Please keep in mind that such a reclassification would not occur until after the completion of the project, which is currently scheduled for 2012. However, please forward my name and contact information to your constituents if they have any questions as this project moves forward.


"Also, please keep in mind that the request for the adjustment to the flood insurance requirement would have to be initiated by the homeowner. It will not typically be done automatically by the mortgage company. The mortgage company may require some documentation regarding the FEMA reclassification, but DPW does not assist property owners in pursuing their flood insurance modification. The Department of Code Enforcement has staff that does provide some guidance if requested by the property owner. However, that is help on navigating the Federal/State submittal requirements. DCE does not provide any technical services such as survey or professional certification of plans. That level of technical assistance could perhaps be obtained by a private surveyor.


Dennis G. Papenmeier

Executive Assistant & City-County Council Liaison

Indianapolis Department of Public Works

Gregory A. Ballard, Mayor



Suite 2460 City-County Building

200 E. Washington Street

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204



317-327-4683 (office)

dpapenme@indy.gov

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