The Manhattan City Commission reviewed an annual progress report for the city’s floodplain management plan.
The city’s current plans are documented online and Tuesday’s review included how the city is working to improve education on flood insurance, warning systems to alert the community during flooding events and regulations to encourage flood-smart construction, as well as mitigation efforts to buyout properties most at risk. Stormwater Compliance Engineer Bill Heatherman presented at Tuesday’s meeting.
Heatherman previewed what some of the future efforts will include.
The city included a tenant notification program in the ordinance revisions within its Manhattan Development Code, which have not yet been implemented, but are earmarked for consideration next year, according to Heatherman.
Commissioner Wynn Butler says the tenant piece is a major concern that must be addressed.
Commissioner Linda Morse, who herself lives in the flood-prone Northview area of Manhattan, agreed, noting it’s easy in drought years to forget about the flood risks in Manhattan.
