Laserfiche WebLink
Storms/Hurricanes impacts profile. Indian River County has <br />experienced two flood events since the last LMS plan <br />update (2015) and one was due to Tropical Storm Matthew <br />(see below). There have been no flooding events recorded <br />for Indian River County in the National Climatic Data Center <br />database since 2017 (through June 2019). Figure 4.2 can <br />be used to determine the extent of the flooding hazard in <br />each of the jurisdictions. In the past, flood waters in Indian <br />River County have seldom exceeded 6" and would not be <br />expected to ever exceed Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) <br />base flood elevations (BFEs) at any given location (i.e., one <br />to two feet). Indian River County has experienced a total of 8 <br />significant flooding (flood property and/or drown <br />people/domestic animals) events between the periods of <br />1947-2015; therefore, there is a 12% annual chance of a <br />significant flooding event to occur in Indian River County. <br />Vulnerability Assessment. In Indian River County, several <br />variations of flood hazards occur due to the different effects of <br />severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, seasonal rains, and other <br />weather related conditions. For the majority of the county, the <br />primary causes of flooding are hurricanes or tropical storms. <br />However, the county's low-lying topography, combined with its <br />subtropical climate, makes it vulnerable to riverine flooding. <br />Flooding events can have the following potential impacts within <br />a community: <br />• Excessive water; <br />• Soil/beach erosion; <br />• Electric power outage; <br />• Surface and air transportation disruption; <br />• Navigable waterway impairment; <br />• Potable water system loss or disruption; <br />• Sewer system outage; <br />• Public health and safety: increased rates of diarrhea <br />(including cholera and dysentery), respiratory infections, <br />hepatitis A and E, typhoid fever, leptospirosis, and <br />diseases borne by insects; <br />• Psychological hardship; <br />• Economic disruption; <br />• Disruption of community services; <br />• Agricultural/fisheries damage; <br />• Damage to critical environmental resources; <br />Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 13 <br />