Richmond DPU releases flood resilience kit for Flood Awareness Week

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The city of Richmond has released a flood resilience kit to help residents prepare as Virginia Flood Awareness Week begins.

The city of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) shared in a press release ways community members can prepare for flooding before storms arrive.

DPU has announced a flood resilience kit, a guide for residents to understand flood risks and protect their homes, families and utilities.

Flooding can happen quickly with no warning. Flooding can come from heavy rainfall, flash flooding, blocked storm drains and rising waterways. The flood resilience kit reportedly provides a guide to help residents prepare and navigate a flood event if it occurs.

The guide will include information on the following, according to the release:

• An understanding of flood risks and floodplain areas
• Requirements for flood insurance and some available resources
• How to prepare a home and family before storms start
• A safety guide during a flood event
• Considerations for utility safety and how to report any issues
• After a flood, some cleanup and recovery steps

“Flood preparedness starts with awareness,” said Scott Morris, the director for DPU. “The Flood Resilience Kit provides practical steps residents can take to protect their homes and families while helping them better understand flood risks in Richmond.”

The guide also provides information on Richmond's flood protection systems and how they would protect the city during major river flooding events. Richmond's system spreads 3.28 miles and protects 750 acres, with systems including levees, concrete floodwalls and pump stations

Additionally, DPU works around the year to prevent flooding through stormwater system maintenance, floodplain management, drainage improvements and community education, per the release.

The city of Richmond also participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), which is a program that takes proactive steps to reduce the risk of flooding in communities. Participants in CRS can also make federal flood insurance more affordable for property owners.

The flood resilience kit also provides ways for community members to reduce the chance of flooding in neighborhoods through keeping storm drains clear of debris, securing outdoor items before a storm and preparing emergency kits.

For more information on the flood resilience kit, visit the city of Richmond's website here.