Introduction
    
     The City of Wetumpka is dedicated to minimizing the loss of life and property
that is associated with flooding events. Education and prevention are valuable and
proven tools that help communities become resistant to these natural disasters.
The City of Wetumpka recognizes there are potential flooding hazards, in the River Region.
The following information has been provided as a public service.
(click on any of the following links in red for further information)

Elmore County Emergency Management / Homeland Security
     Eric Jones, Director  
     201 Hill street
     Wetumpka, Alabama 36092
     Tel: (334) 567-6451
        http://elmoreco.org/Default.asp?ID=159&pg=EMA%2FHS

Flood Hazard

     The City of Wetumpka is located south of the Lake Jordan dam in the 
Coosa River chain. The Coosa runs through the heart of our city.  The potential
for river area flooding may occur because of heavy rains that occur north
of Wetumpka. The primary flooding hazards for our area are usually due to
flash flooding which usually occurs because of severe thunderstorms, 
or hurricanes.
     It is very important that our citizens refrain from sweeping leaves or
causing grass clippings from mowing to be ejected onto the streets or into
the gutters. Leaves, grass clippings and other debris that end up in the gutters,
may cause storm water inlets to clog, and cause flooding problems.

Nation Weather Service River Flood Warnings

http://ahps2.wrh.noaa.gov/ahps2/ahps_warnings.php?wfo=bmx&zone=ALC051,ALC101,ALZ043,ALZ044

Real Time River Gauge Readings

     Coosa River at Wetumpka : http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=02411600
     Real Time Data for Alabama Waterways : http://waterdata.usgs.gov/AL/nwis/current/?type=flow
        Advance Hydrologic Prediction Services : http://ahps.srh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=bmx&gage=weta1
        River Flood Outlook : http://weather.hamweather.com/rivers/gauge/WETA1.html

Flash Floods

     Flash flooding occurs when heavy heavy rains fall in a short period of time. Rapidly rising water in a low area or near a drainage ditch or small stream can be deadly.  The dangers should not be underestimated.  Never allow children to play near a swollen drainage ditch or small stream.  Never cross flooded roadways or bridges...moving water is a very powerful force.

7 Day National Weather Service Forecast for Wetumpka

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=BMX&llon=-86.517083&rlon=-85.767083&tlat=32.965417&blat=32.217917&smap=1&mp=1&map.x=106&map.y=140

Cell Phone Access to Weather Alerts

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/cte.htm

NOAA Weather Frequencies

     If you have a scanner you can use the following frequencies to listen to weather forecast, alerts, updates, and warnings. 162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, 162.550.

Drainage System Maintainance

Ordinace 92-3, Section 62-9. Depositing garbage in streams, sewers
and similiar places.

     It shall be unlawful for any person to sweep, throw, deposit or cause to
be swept, thrown or deposited into or on any canal, stream, public water drain,
sewer or recieving basin within the city, any garbage, rubbish or other refuse
or to permit such materials to accumulate in such a manner that it may be
carried and deposited into or on any of such place by action of rain, wind and or snow.

Storm Water and Drainage Maintenance Uniform Maintenace Proceedures

Objectives
     To insure that all storm water drainage ditches are maintained and
 inspected per schedule.Maintenance and inspection records are kept up to date.
Responsibilities
                 1. The Director of Public works will be responsible for administering
                     maintenance procedures. The Director shall inspect all storm water
                     and drainage ditches, to insure optimium flow.
                 2. Maintenance that involves state or county lands / properties shall be
                     coordinated with the appropriate persons and / or agencies. 
                 3. City of Wetumpka personnel shall not maintain ditches located on
                     private lands, unless an easement has been granted. if an easement
                     has been granted, the City of Wetumpka personnel shall not enter
                     said easement, except to inspect or perform scheduled maintenace.
Jurisdiction
                 1. Uniform maintenance procedures and inspections apply to the
                     following types of ditches.
                      a. Open Ditches
                      b. Concrete Ditches
                      c. Culverts
Inspection
                1. The Director of Public Works or his designee shall inspect all drainage once 
                     every two months.
                     a. If problems are noted during inspections, the drainage ditch must be inspected
                         upon completion of work, noting the time, dates, and action taken.
                2. The Director of Public Works or his designee, shall inspect all ditches after each 
                    storm, to insure that debris is removed before another storm.
                3. The Director of Public Works or his designee, shall inspect all complaints
                     submitted by residents or Health Inspector, or other public office.
                4. If problems are noted during an inspection, the inspector shall describe the problem
                    on the drainage ditch inspection log, and follow up to insure corrections are made. 
                     a. The person inspecting the ditch, shall note on the form describing the ditch,
                         problems noticed and other pertenant information.
                     b. The Director of Public Works will be responsible for designating a crew to make
                         needed corrections in a timely manner. If a problem is located on private property,
                         of other public entity, a copy of report shall be forwarded to the proper authority.
                    c. The supervisor of the work crew will be responsible for recording work performed 
                        on the drainage ditch where work was assigned.
                    d. The drainage ditch log shall be reviewed by Director or his designee at the end of
                        every month.
Maintenance
     Typical maintenance and maintenance problems are :
                1. Clearing vegetation by means of weedeater, or mowing equipment such as a bushog.
                2. Naturally occurring debris such as fallen trees, logs and limbs.
                3. Animal obstructions such as beaver dams.
                4. Trash, tires, appliances, furniture, or other items discarded.
                5. Obstructions in culverts, blocking the flow of water through the drainage ditch. 

Floodplain Development Permit Requirements

     Section 46 of Wetumpka Code.pdf   You will need Adobe Acrobat Viewer to view or print these files.       
     This may take a minute to load.

The International Building Code Manual, Chapter 7, section 700.
     700.1 Selection, states, " The authority having jurisdiction shall select and adopt a regulatory floodway as defined in 202, based on the authority specifired in 101.3.
     701.1 Provisions, states, "no encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvments and other development or land disturbing activity shall be permitted within a floodway unless certification, along with supporting technical data, is provided by a registered engineer demonstrating that such development will not cause any increase in flood levels during the occurance of the base flood discharge.
  
Wetumpka Building Department is located at 408 South Main Street.
    The phone number is 334-567-1303. Building Department E-Mail address is bldgpermit@bellsouth.net
For more information concerning Building Code, see Building Department under the heading
City Departments.

Flood Safety

                1. Learn the safest route from your home or business to higher ground,
                    but stay tuned to reports of changing flood conditions.
                2. If emergency officials tell you to evacuate or leave your home, go immediately to a
                    safer shelter, hotel or relatives house.
                3. Turn off all utilities, gas, and electricity, at the main switch. Stay away from power
                    lines. Be alert for possible gas leaks.
                4. Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one cause of flood
                    related deaths. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you 
                    off your feet.
                5. Do not drive through a flodded area. More people drown in thier vehicles than in any
                    other location. SUV's and pick-up trucks are not safer than other vehicles when
                    attempting to cross flooded roads.

Flood Insurance

     For more information about flood insurance contact : http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/

Important Useful Websites

     http://www.fema.gov/
     http://www.usgs.gov/
     http://www.noaa.gov/
     http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
     http://www.floods.org/
     http://www.weather.gov/
          

Flood Map
      FEMA issued flood maps :http://msc.fema.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?

Property Protection
      If you live in a flood prone area you may want to consider altering your building to help prevent
or reduce damage.

                 1. Elevating the building so that flood waters do not enter or reach any damageable
                     portion of it.
                 2. Constructing barriers out of fill or concrete between the building and flood waters,
                 3. "Dry floodproofing" to make the building walls and floors watertight so water does not
                    enter,
                 4. "Wet floodproofing" to modify the structure and relocate the contents so that when
                    flood waters enter the building there is little or no damage.
                 5. Preventing basement flooding from sewer backup or sump pump failure.

     For more information, contact Stacey Carter at 334-567-1303. Visit the building department website listed under City Departments

Flood Damage Prevention
Ordinance NO. 98-5

       Ordinance 98-5.pdf   You will need Adobe Acrobat Viewer to view or print these files.       
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