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September Marks Three Years since the 2013 Flood - Preparedness is Key

Posted on: Sep-13-2016

After an abnormally dry summer, Fort Collins has officially entered into a moderate drought. Regardless of drought conditions, it's important to remember that our community is subject to significant flooding during both wet and dry periods.

September 12-13 marks three years since the 2013 flood on the Poudre River. While Fort Collins has experienced the devastating impacts of flooding in the past, we also saw the benefits of long-term planning and preparedness during the September 2013 flood, which greatly reduced local losses. The entire community benefits from awareness and preparedness during flood events.

As part of its ongoing Fort Collins: Be Flood Ready program, Fort Collins Utilities recently developed two new videos that highlight lessons learned during the 1997 Spring Creek Flood, as well as tips to minimize personal, financial and environmental loss. It's important for community members to know the risks and be aware of the steps they can take to protect themselves, their families and property. The videos are available at https://www.fcgov.com/flood-safety :

• Fort Collins Flood Safety Tips (new in 2016)
• Reflections on the 1997 Spring Creek Flood (new in 2016)

Flood insurance is another important consideration. Fort Collins residents receive one of the lowest flood insurance rates in the country. Due to our FEMA Community Rating System Class 2 ranking, customers can qualify to receive up to a 40 percent discount on flood insurance.

Remember:

(1) Only flood insurance covers floods.
(2) You don't have to be in a floodplain to get flooded.
(3) Everyone in Fort Collins can purchase flood insurance.

Learn more at https://www.fcgov.com/flood-insurance .

September also is recognized as National Preparedness Month. Fort Collins Utilities encourages residents to take immediate action to prepare, now and throughout the year, for the types of emergencies that could affect us locally.

To learn more information about what to do before, during and after a flood, visit http://ready.gov/floods . Other safety tips can be found at http://redcross.org/prepare .

For more information, visit https://www.fcgov.com/stormwater , email utilities@fcgov.com , call 970-221-2900 or V/TDD 711.



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