Why is there flooding in the Linwood and W. 7th areas? • The flooding in these areas is not caused by river overflow in the mapped Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain but is due to a combination of an undersized drainage system, flat topography, and stormwater runoff from the overall watershed draining across the area and through the federal levee system into the Trinity River. • The City has performed a detailed engineering evaluation to better understand and map the non-FEMA flood risk in this area, which has been identified as a City Flood Risk Area. You can view flood mapping information here.
What is the city doing to mitigate the flooding? • The city hired an engineering consultant (Halff Associates) in August 2023. The consultant has been tasked with identifying and evaluating potential alternatives to mitigate the flooding. The consultant is looking at an overall plan for improvements (large multi-phase projects) and smaller potential projects that could provide immediate flood mitigation benefits to the most at risk residents.
How much are flood mitigation improvements estimated to cost, and how will improvements be funded? • In the fall of 2023, initial cost estimates for a potential improvement plan were estimated at around $110,000,000. This estimate did not include the cost of a potential pump station to convey the stormwater runoff into the river when the river elevation is higher than the flap gates, which drain the stormwater runoff through the levee system and into the river. The potential improvement concepts and costs will change as the consultant evaluates the potential improvements in more detail during the Project Development phase. • With such a large estimated cost, the overall strategy will need to be implemented in phases over many years. Funding is anticipated to come from revenue collected from the Stormwater Utility Fee and debt issued in revenue bonds. • The city is looking at opportunities for grants, partnerships, and other funding sources to supplement and extend City funding. The potential project has been included in the Texas State Flood Plan (available here: https://www.twdb.texas.gov/flood/planning/sfp/index.asp), which provides the city with the ability to pursue funding for improvements through the federal Flood Infrastructure Fund. The city is working with the office of U.S. Congresswoman Kay Granger to request federal funding to assist with fieldwork, environmental screening, and preliminary engineering design for the potential flood mitigation improvements through the federal government’s Fiscal Year 2025 Community Project Funding program (https://kaygranger.house.gov/fy2025-community-project-funding). This funding is not guaranteed and will go through a process to determine if funding will be appropriated.
When is the first project anticipated? • Based on preliminary project development, design, and funding schedules, it is estimated that the first phase could begin construction as early as 2027. If funding becomes available sooner, the city will work to expedite the delivery of the first project phase.
What can property owners and residents do to help protect properties or to recover from flooding? • Home insurance typically does not cover losses related to flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flood insurance is available to residents of Fort Worth at a 15% discount due to the City's participation in FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) program. While flood insurance will not mitigate flooding, it can help a property owner more quickly recover from flood loss. Contact a local insurance agent for more information or visit https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/tpw/stormwater/documents/fwswflood-insurance.pdf • To help protect homes and businesses during a flood, sandbags could be placed at the threshold of doorways where runoff may enter. • Before a storm event, property owners should inspect the path that runoff takes around their property to ensure that there is no blockage that would prevent the flow of water. A blockage could be a fence set flush on the ground that doesn’t allow runoff to pass through efficiently, a clogged french drain inlet or line, or debris below a fence. • While more costly, residents can retrofit their homes using flood proofing techniques to reduce flood risk. This could involve improvements such as home elevation, sealing a home to make it more water resistant, or making portions of a home resistant to flood waters. More information on flood proofing homes can be found at: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020- 07/fema_homeowners-guide-to-retrofitting_guide.pd