Page 4 - The Deed 2019

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MCD can now instantly communicate with local police, counties, cities and other agencies across the state with new multi-agency radios.
New ood- ghting tool
MCD can now immediately communicate with agencies across the state
De ning the 100-year ood
You’ve probably heard the term “100-year ood” at one time or another. But what does it mean?
Most people assume it means a ood that happens once every 100 years. But it doesn’t.
The “100-year ood” is a ood that statistically has a 1-percent (1-in-100) chance of occurring in a speci c area in any given year. The “100-year ood” does not predict when or where a ood could happen.
It’s possible that there could be a 100-year ood in the same location two years in a row, or two 100-year oods in the same year. It’s possible that a city or region could be experiencing a 100-year ood, while another area on the same river is not ooding.
And it’s possible that an area could go several hundred years without experiencing a 100-year ood.
Many people use ood frequency (100-year, 500-year, 1,000-year) to de ne ooding. MCD’s ood protection system is designed based on the volume of water—the 1913 ood plus 40 percent.
“It’s a complicated formula but the bottom line is that our system is designed to handle more rain than this region has ever seen in a three-day period,” says Kurt Rinehart, MCD chief engineer.
Levees like this one in the City of Franklin offer a high level of protection from ooding but some risk still remains. Everyone in the U.S. is at some risk of ooding.
In an emergency, communication can be the difference between life and death.
MCD recently added a new ood- ghting tool—radios that allow MCD to instantly communicate internally and with other agencies.
These Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) radios have life-saving potential in a crisis situation, says Barry Puskas, MCD technical services manager.
“If we ever need to evacuate an area, communication with local police and
other agencies will be critical,” he says. “These radios allow us to communicate immediately to numerous entities—such as county and state emergency management agencies as well as rst responders. It’s another tool in our ood- ghting arsenal to keep people safe.”
Is ood insurance for you?
MCD’s dams and levees offer an extremely high level of protection. Yet, FEMA recommends everyone consider ood insurance because every property in this country has some level of ooding risk.
Flooding isn’t limited to rivers. Creeks can over ow their banks. Sewer systems can back up with storm water runoff. Heavy rain can fall on areas with poor drainage or
without storm sewers. Groundwater can rise and ood basements. There are also many areas outside of MCD’s protection area, especially those near smaller creeks, that are at greater risk of ooding from lesser events.
Learn more about the National Flood Insurance Program or contact your local city of cials about your ooding risk.
Protecting | Preserving | Promoting