Vol. 16, No. 4, December 1978 - "Flood Hazards in Pennsylvania"
(pp. 1 - 11)
James T. Lorelli
Bloomsburg State College
Abstract
Despite heavy financial investment in flood control measures since passage of the 1936 Flood Control Act, property damage and human dislocation continue to rise on America's floodplains. Average annual losses estimated by the National Water Commission place the amount upwards of one billion dollars with increases to five billion dollars by the year 2020. Flooding along the Susquehanna River in 1972 generated losses approaching three billion dollars in the Middle Atlantic region.
RISK TAKING BY VACATION COTTAGE OWNERS ON THE FLOODPLAIN
(pp. 6 - 11)
Brian Johnson
Bloomsburg State College
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
(pp. 11 - 18)
Thomas P. Bresenhan
SEDA - Council of Governments
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Abstract
Mobile home parks are an extremely hazardous use of flood prone lands. Mobile homes experience proportionately greater damage than conventional housing, often inflict damage in parks by floating into other units and increase stages by blocking bridge openings. A strategy to accelerate the reduction of flood hazards at mobile home parks in central Pennsylvania is described. Four hazard reduction techniques are examined. Emergency evacuation of mobile home parks is constrained by the timeliness of the flood warning, threat recognition, availability of egress routes, and the degree of initiative shown by the park owner and private insurance companies. Flood insurance is available for mobile homes from private companies and through the National Flood Insurance Program. Private insurers attempt to reduce losses by promoting emergency evacuation. Losses are prevented in the National Flood Insurance Program through the adoption and administration of municipal land use regulations which halt park expansion in high hazard areas. Permanent relocation is an acceptable technique providing funding sources can be identified and appropriate sites selected.
(pp. 19 - 25)
Duane D. Braun
Bloomsburg State College
Abstract
The key question for those occupying the floodplain is how high can water get and how often will it do so. While the question is simple the answer is not, due to uncertainty of predicting such natural events as floods. In fact, no exact answer is possible except one couched in terms of statistical probability or chance.