The City of Petersburg is receiving two grants from the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund that will support a Comprehensive Citywide Drainage Study, updating the Floodplain Management Ordinance, developing a Resilience Plan, and hiring a Certified Floodplain Manager. The grants total $2,623,558.
“Much of the City’s main infrastructure dates to the early 1800’s and as Petersburg continues to grow, the stormwater management systems must be upgraded and expanded to handle current demands and prevent continuous flooding,” says Petersburg City Manager Stuart Turille. “The first step is the completion of a citywide stormwater management study that will identify problems and outline solutions for flood mitigation.”
The City has been exploring grant funding for a Comprehensive Drainage Study for decades. This grant will enable the City to inventory the antiquated storm sewer system, model the existing conditions of both the closed and open storm sewer systems and surface waters to better identify the source of problem areas, and identify nature-based solutions and other priority projects to alleviate repetitive flooding problems throughout the City. The outcome of the Drainage Study will be projects that can be implemented to provide flood prevention and protection, as well as equitable community improvement. The Comprehensive Drainage Study will begin in 2022.
The Resilience Plan includes preparing, planning, recovering, and adapting from potential future flooding events. The Community Outreach Plan will educate residents and property owners on floodplain management. The Resilience Plan will be incorporated into the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan.