An Ecosystem-Based Watershed Management Plan
for the
Susquehanna and Chemung Basins of New York

Water connects us all...

GOAL:
Floods happen, so be prepared.

• Prevent loss of life and significantly reduce future damages from floods by mapping flood hazards, regulating use of high hazard areas, mitigating risks for existing development, restoring beneficial floodplain functions, maintaining flood control structures, and enhancing flood warning systems.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Section 5: Flood Hazards

EXISTING PLANS & DATA:

• Flood Attenuation Opportunities.  Guidance for identifying potential projects that enhance the ability of the watershed to absorb and store water:
  • Elmira area
  • Binghamton area
• Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FEMA flood hazard maps):  Effective (current) maps are available from the FEMA Map Service Center.  Information about digital mapping projects is on the FEMA mapping status page.
• FEMA Mapping Information Platform:  Select "Map Viewer" to view FEMA's flood hazard maps.  The county scale shows the availability of Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs), preliminary maps, and Q3 data.  Note that Q3 data are digitized from paper maps and may be outdated or inaccurate.  Zoom in to view available data.  
• Broome County Flood Zone Changes:  Maps show proposed changes to the regulated floodplain as indicated on preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (released February 2010; not yet effective).
• Inundation maps that show areas flooded (and sometimes flood depths) at different river stages:  New maps for the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers in Broome County are available on the Susquehanna Inundation Map Viewer.  Older paper maps are available for other areas. 
• Hazard Mitigation Plans:
  • New York State
  • Broome County
  • Chemung County
  • Chenango County
  • Cortland County
  • Delaware County
  • Madison County
  • Otsego County
  • Schoharie County
  • Schuyler County:  Hazard Mitigation Plan.  Flood Mitigation Action Plan.
  • Steuben County
  • Tioga County (Part 1 of Comprehensive Emergency Plan)
  • Tompkins County
  • Municipal Flood and Hazard Mitigation Plans (for some Chemung and Steuben County municipalities)
• Reducing Flood Damage in the Southern Tier Central Region (1998)
• Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) Comprehensive Plan (2008):  Addresses needs associated with flooding, as well as flood forecast and flood warning.
• June 2006 Flood:  A summary of the flood and performance of the Susquehanna Flood Forecast and Warning System by SRBC
• Town of Kirkwood Flood Land Reuse Plan:  Guidance on the proper reuse and maintenance of flood-prone land acquired by the Town as a result of buyouts following the "Flood of 2006."
• Municipal regulations that provide flood protection beyond standard floodplain development requirements:
  • Town of Big Flats Zoning:  Conservation Zone encompassing the regulatory floodway
  • Town of Elmira Zoning:  Conservation Zone encompassing the regulatory floodway
• Sidney Center flood studies.
• National Flood Insurance Program: 
  • Policy claim statistics (since Jan. 1, 1978; by municipality)
  • Policy statistics (number and amount of policies; by municipality)
  • Rethinking the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP):  Recommendations for improving national floodplain management policy, prepared by the NYS Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association (January 2011).