Areas Most Impacted: Exists citywide, but groundwater depth varies depending on rainfall and snow melt.When the ground becomes saturated, groundwater may seep through the floors and walls of basements.Areas Most Impacted: Chestnut Hill, Roxborough, Andorra, Germantown, Torresdale.Overland runoff can also lead to flash floods. Some areas of Philadelphia experience overland flooding due to the absence of sewers. This flooding can be made worse when sewers can’t handle the volume. Excessive water running over the ground and streets.Areas Most Impacted: Eastwick, Manayunk, East Falls, Delaware Avenue, watershed parks. Because Philadelphia is located at the lower end of major watersheds, we often see the worst of this type of flooding. Streams and rivers overflow their banks during short, intense rainstorms and/or hurricane-level rainstorms.Some floods develop slowly, while others, like flash flooding (which can occur even when there is no rain in our area), can develop in minutes without any visible signs of rain. Neighborhoods that are in low-lying areas that are near waterways or close to a dam are more prone. When combined with high tide, the sewer system can become overwhelmed and create backups that flood basements. Severe storms that bring heavy rainfall can cause river, surface water or groundwater flooding. Types of Flooding in Philadelphiaįlooding happens in a few ways in Philadelphia. Search your address to see if your property is in a flood prone area. Lippert also spoke to the importance of knowing if you live in a floodplain in the city. If you live in a flood-prone area, consider submitting an Elevation Certificate which may save you money on your flood insurance premiums. The City of Philadelphia’s Floodplain Manager, Josh Lippert, pointed out that flood damage is costly and is not covered under typical homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. This allowed collaboration between departments and agencies to address flooding issues while improving strategy for flood management and city planning. This concern for flooding in Philadelphia led to the creation of the Citywide Flood Risk Management Task Force. Urbanization increases runoff by 2 to 6 times over what would occur in natural terrain. Flooding can occur quicker as more water runoff is created in developed urbanized areas with less green space available. Urban areas, like Philadelphia, are most susceptible. In fact, Pennsylvania is one of the most flood prone states in the United States.Īccording to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), flooding was the greatest cause of property loss attributed to natural hazards in Pennsylvania at a cost of $91.6 million per year from 1996 to 2014. Headlines from across the United States this year show the danger and damage that is caused by flooding, including loss of life and property.įlooding can, and does, happen here in Philadelphia, and it’s not just a problem for those that live near rivers and streams. This month, we talk to the City of Philadelphia’s Floodplain Manager, Josh Lippert, about how the city is affected by flooding and ways you can protect your property from costly damage. Par t of the Plan is the Office of Emergency Management’s monthly video series where we open our public safety plans and partnerships. Something we value at OEM is informing and including the public as to your roles in our plans.
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