Findlay still working to meet floodplain regulations

FINDLAY — Work to bring Findlay into compliance with federal floodplain regulations continues, but the list is narrowing. Erik Adkins, city and floodplain zoning administrator, has asked Findlay City Council to consider moving forward with the next phase. In 2011, the Federal Emergency Management Agency identified several compliance issues through its Community Assistance Visit program, or CAV audit. During a CAV audit, FEMA provides technical assistance to communities and evaluates enforcement of floodplain management regulations, as part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The audit typically consists of a tour of the floodplain, an inspection of community permit files and meetings with local appointed and elected officials. In a letter to council, dated July 2, Adkins said non-compliance poses a risk to the city's standing in the NFIP and may jeopardize local property owners' eligibility for flood insurance. He said bringing the city into compliance is a priority for city administrators. In June 2024, council appropriated $15,000 to help bring about 50 properties into compliance in the downtown area. The properties are located on Eastview Drive, Findlay Street, Huron Road, Clinton Court, 2nd Street, Westview Drive, East Sandusky Street, Shinkle Street, North Blanchard Street, South Blanchard Street, East Main Cross Street, Hawthorne Road, Meeks Avenue, Defiance Avenue, Davis Street, Center Street, Cross Street, Fishlock Avenue, Springlake Drive, Wilson Street, Howard Street and Leiser Avenue. About 35 properties were professionally surveyed. The surveys created elevation certificates for the non-compliant properties to determine what corrections must be made. The city notified the property owners by mail. In some cases, having the elevation certificate on file was enough to meet the standards. Other remedies could include venting, filling in crawlspaces or elevating utilities. Adkins said the evaluation identified 12 properties with specific deficiencies, including nine properties requiring the installation of engineered flood vents. The vents are designed to allow floodwater to flow freely in and out of crawlspaces, etc., to reduce pressure on the foundations. Several properties also have crawlspace configurations that do not meet FEMA or NFIP standards. Administrators plan to focus on the vents first, and then move on to the crawlspace problems once more information is gathered, he said. In the letter, Adkins asked that the compliance effort be referred to the council's Water and Sewer Committee, where the administration can review what's been completed and the work that remains. Council agreed to refer it to the committee at its July 15 regular meeting. On Wednesday, Adkins said last year's appropriation of $15,000 should be enough to finish the work. Once completed, he said FEMA will review the updates before declaring the city is in compliance. FEMA's review comments for the city's CAV included several questions about permitting for construction at the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library, 206 Broadway St., which is located in the city's floodplain and has a below-ground parking garage. Adkins said city officials are still working with FEMA on the compliance issues regarding the library's parking garage. He said the garage does have a "submarine door" that can be closed to prevent water from entering the upper level. He said the building was flood-mitigated after the flood of August 2007. Flood mitigation efforts along the Blanchard River at Findlay — including the Eagle Creek flood basin, river benching, clearing of the floodplain, and improvements to the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge — are expected to remove about half of the 5,000 properties from the 100-year floodplain in Hancock County. Updates to the flood maps to reflect the changes, however, may take years. Officials have said the impact of the mitigation was factored into FEMA's compliance audit.