Flooding

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Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern

Elevation Certificate

BFE Determination Module

Listening to victims of the 2006 flood at FEMA's Disaster Recovery Center at the Ono Fire Company, it became evident that some spirits were low to the point that certain individuals vowed not to move back into their homes.  Others felt "trapped" like no one would want to buy their home now that it sustained so much damage, and to others the flooding was "a way of life" to which they had come accustomed.

If you live in an area that floods and you lost personal belongings or had to replace drywall, a furnace, and/or carpeting, you may be asking what you can do.  Short of moving, have you considered elevation?

Information follows that Lebanon's EMA Director Dan Kauffman passes along from our consultant, Tom Armenio at Delta Development.  You may personally find the information useful or give it to a friend.

bulletThe property owner’s goal would be to elevate the house at or above the base flood elevation (BFE).  A local surveyor and/or engineer would need to calculate the BFE for the owner and would likely need to complete the attached elevation certificate form in the process for NFIP purposes.
bulletThe USGS uses instrumentation at various stream gauges to analyze flood-flow information.  These instruments that read stream stage can indicate how high the stream stage was during a particular storm, but cannot show how high water got in the surrounding land and how much land will flood when a particular stream or river overflows its banks.  Typically the USGS will go out and look for high water marks (on trees, buildings, etc.) that occur during floods.  They can then use this data, along with stream stage data to estimate how much flooding will occur when a stream or river reaches a particular flow stage.  The USGS keeps real-time stream gauge data on their website, but we’re not sure if there is any high-water mark data available.  (I know of several Agnes (1972) markings on buildings.  For example, Kettering and Son's at 16th and Cumberland Streets in Lebanon and the barn at Boat House Road Park, Derry Township)  Even so, this information could probably only be used as a guide, in which case the person might have to go the surveying route as discussed above. 
bulletWe do have the Flood Insurance Study for Lebanon County, but would need to know a specific street address/physical location (not a RR) to see if a property is in the flood plain.
If you decide to elevate your home or complete other structural changes, be sure to get a building permit.  However, according to Julie Cheney in County Planning, building permits are not necessary for non-structural repairs like replacing drywall, a furnace, and/or carpeting.

 

June 28, 2006, Lebanon County Commissioners declared a disaster emergency.  The 18.28' crest moves into an historical third place record height.

Historical Crests
(1) 25.60 ft on 1889/06/1
(2) 23.72 ft on 1972/06/23 (Agnes)
(3) 17.53 ft on 1933/08/24
(4) 17.36 ft on 2004/09/19
(5) 17.24 ft on 1975/09/27
Show More Historical Crests 		Low Water Records
(1) -0.3 ft on 1981/10/ 1
(1) -0.3 ft on 1980/09/ 24
(1) -0.3 ft on 1966/09/ 4
(1) -0.3 ft on 1964/09/ 27
(5) -0.2 ft on 1987/08/ 19
18.0 Widespread flooding occurs with many roads...homes and businesses affected.
16.0 Most homes adjacent to the creek are affected to some degree. Numerous evacuations are necessary.
14.0 A number of homes along the creek are affected. Some evacuations are necessary.
12.0 A number of secondary roads are closed...resulting in some evacuations. A few homes are flooded.
10.0 High water isolates several houses.
9.0 Several driveways and other minor roadways are affected. Water begins to enter some basements.