Flowtracker measurement during flooding in Ithaca, NY – USGS NY Water Science Center

Contributed by David Wolfe, Chair, Cayuga Lake Watershed Network Board of Directors

3/21/2023 – While flooding is not new to our region, historical data show a substantial increase in the frequency of heavy rainstorms since the 1960s and rising costs from flood damage. This trend is reflected in preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) developed for Tompkins County by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The current Tompkins County FIRMs have not been updated for over 40 years. The map revisions are not final, but they are a reality check for how things have changed.  The number of residences and commercial properties within Special Flood Hazard Areas, which require flood insurance, has increased across Tompkins County. The city of Ithaca is by far the most affected, with many heavily populated areas now in a flood hazard areas. Ithaca is particularly vulnerable to flooding because of its relatively low elevation and incoming water from the Inlet as well as Fall, Cascadilla, and Six Mile Creeks.

Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are also referred to as base-flood or 100-year flood zones. There is often confusion around the phrase “100-year flood” zone. You might think this means the area will only flood once every 100 years, but this is not the case. More accurately, these are the areas at risk of flooding at water levels which have a 1-percent chance of occurring or being exceeded, in any given year. These areas are considered high risk because they have at least a 1-in-4 chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage. As a result, mortgage lenders are mandated by the FDIC to ensure all properties they have loans on within a FEMA designated flood hazard zone have flood insurance.

Development & Climate Change Drive Flood Risk

The population of Tompkins County has increased substantially since the last maps were released in 1981. More people means more paved roads, parking lots, and buildings, which, unlike soil, cannot absorb and store rainfall and snowmelt. That water must go somewhere, and not all of our our stormwater drains and systems have the capacity to prevent flooding during major storm events.

Climate change is another factor affecting flood risk in our watershed. Rising temperatures cause more evaporation from land and waterbodies, and the warmer atmosphere is able to hold more of that water vapor When humid air eventually encounters cooler temperatures, the large amounts of water vapor can quickly condense and come down in a deluge. The increasing intensity of storms has been one of the most pronounced impacts of climate change in our region so far.

Local Process & Response

FEMA recognizes that residents are rightfully concerned about how the updated maps might affect their flood insurance requirements and/or home values. The update process has therefore been extensive and is still on-going. FEMA is consulting with Ithaca and Tompkins County officials, and a public “open house” meeting will be announced soon for this spring. Concerned residents should plan to attend.  As the process moves ahead there will be opportunities for formal appeals, and ample time (possibly 1 to 2 years) for the community to make adjustments that reduce flood risk and thereby modify flood zone maps or reduce flood insurance costs for specific properties.

Some recent good news is that Ithaca has obtained $1.3 million of funding through the offices of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand that can be used for flood mitigation and resilience efforts. Additional grant opportunities are being explored. These funds could be used for higher capacity storm drainage systems,  floodwalls or levees along stream banks, and other infrastructure projects. These actions could significantly reduce the size of the flood zone areas requiring additional insurance. Homeowners in newly mapped flood zones needing insurance will likely be taking advantage of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  Many commercial home insurance companies work with the NFIP. For more information on this program and other options, visit the FEMA “Floodsmart” website.

Now is the time for all watershed residents, especially those in Tompkins County, to engage in this process and learn what local government agencies and individual homeowners can do to minimize flood risk and potential economic impacts. The Cayuga Lake Watershed Network and our local partners will share additional information as it becomes available. Sign-up for our email list at www.cayugalake.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for update alerts. 

UPDATE: 

FloodingFlood Insurance, and FEMA: Living with Water in Ithaca
Friday, May 12
9:00 – 11:00 AM 

This semester, two classes at Cornell have been studying how Ithaca and surrounding communities can respond to FEMA‘s proposed remapping of Ithaca’s flood risks. Students have examined the impacts to housing affordability and displacement, as well as policy, land use, and design interventions at local to regional levels. A public presentation of the students’ work will be held in the Borgwarner Room, at the Tompkins County Public Library on Green Street in Ithaca. Learn more. 

 For questions, please contact the faculty leading these engaged courses: Linda Shi lindashi@cornell.edu, Jamie Vanucchi jlv29@cornell.edu, or Rebecca M. Brenner rebecca.brenner@cornell.edu

LOCAL FEMA OPEN HOUSE EVENTS April 26 & 27

FEMA, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and Tompkins County community officials invite residents to two Flood Risk and Insurance Open Houses on:

Wednesday, April 26, 2023
4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

at the:
Ithaca High School Cafeteria

1401 North Cayuga Street

Ithaca, NY 14850

OR

Thursday, April 27, 2023
4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

at the:
Tompkins County Whole Health Building

55 Brown Road

Ithaca, NY 14850

Residents can attend at any time between 4:30 and 8:30 p.m., for any length of time, the events will not have formal presentations. At the events, community members will be able to talk one-on-one with FEMA representatives, to learn more about their flood risk and to get information on potential changes to flood insurance rates and requirements. If you already have flood insurance, please bring a copy of your declaration page.