Update: My town's 'normal' flood last month wasn't normal at all

Three years ago, the creek behind my house in Millersville would only get high after a huge storm. Last month, a regular afternoon rain made it spill over the bank for the third time this spring. I checked the town's old rain records (my neighbor is on the council) and the amount that fell wasn't even in the top ten storms from the 1990s. The ground is just so saturated now, and there's more pavement everywhere, so even a small rain has nowhere to go. I'm looking at my yard right now, still soggy, and realizing we can't just keep cleaning up. Has anyone else had to push their local government to update old flood maps or drainage plans? What finally got them to listen?

3 comments

3 Comments

wright.jesse2mo ago

My basement's basically a wading pool now, so I feel you.

noah9141mo ago

That 2008 flood in Cedar Rapids was a nightmare. Did your uncle have flood insurance or was it all out of pocket? I've heard some regular home policies just won't cover that kind of basement backup.

joel_young2mo ago

My uncle's place in Cedar Rapids flooded back in 2008 and they had to tear out everything two feet up the walls. Honestly, it took them over a year to really fix it all. Tbh that kind of water damage just gets into everything, the drywall, the floor joists, the whole deal. Ngl it makes me nervous every time we get a heavy rain now.