Repetitive Flood Loss Area Analysis

Repetitive Flood Loss Area Analysis for Kenner

The Natural & Beneficial Functions of the Floodplain

A large portion of Kenner as well as Jefferson Parish is at or below sea level. While there are some areas that are above this level, the entire parish is prone to the possibility of flooding. This is primarily because we are surrounded by rivers, lakes bayous, and canals, which necessitate our protection through a series of levee systems. Therefore, we must use drainage canals and pumping stations to remove stormwater as quickly as possible into the surrounding waterways outside the levee system.

Floodplain lands and adjacent waters combine to form a complex, dynamic physical, and biological system found nowhere else. When portions of floodplains are preserved in (or restored to) their natural state, they provide many benefits to both human and natural systems. Adapting to natural flooding means reduced loss of life and property, protection of critical natural and cultural resources and more sustainable development.

National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System

Information can help homeowners reduce their flood risk by making them aware of the flooding problems in their neighborhood, and the potential solutions to the continual suffering that results from repetitive flooding. Mitigation - or actions taken to reduce risk - to address these repetitive loss properties will ultimately be instrumental in reducing the overall costs to individual homeowners as well as the National Flood Insurance Program.

In the United States, flooding is the most common natural disaster, which results in more loss of life and property than any other types of hazards and severe weather events. More than 20,000 communities experience floods and this hazard accounts for approximately 73% of all Presidential Disaster Declarations over the 2008 to 2017 time period per FEMA. Recent studies also indicate how the cost of recovery is spread over local, state, and federal government as well as the disaster victims who are themselves affected by the disaster.

Input from the public in the City of Kenner as well as Jefferson Parish was used to compile a parish-wide Hazard Mitigation Plan, which may be viewed on the parish website. The City of Kenner has been participating in the Community Rating System (CRS) program since October 1, 1992. As of March 31, 2018, there are 16,026 NFIP policies in force in the City of Kenner and insurance coverage of approximately $4 billion.

The Community Rating System is a voluntary program designed to reward a community for doing more than meeting the NFIP minimum requirements to reduce flood damages. Communities can be rewarded for activities such as reducing flood damage to existing buildings, managing development in areas not shown in the floodplain on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), protecting new buildings from floods greater than the 100-year flood, helping insurance agents obtain flood data, and helping people obtain flood insurance. The reward for these activities comes in the form of reduced premiums for flood insurance policy holders.

Improving emergency preparedness and public awareness activities are two areas where Kenner has improved recently, so that we make our residents, businesses, and visitors more aware of not only infrastructure activity, but also steps that individuals can take to help improve the community around flood and storm water issues.

Part of the CRS process is to define areas of repetitive flood loss and analyze ways those areas can have mitigation reduce flood risks. That process was completed September 28, 2018 for the newest City of Kenner information.

View the September 2018 RLAA (PDF).

Anyone who observes any harmful activity with regard to our canal system should immediately report it to the City of Kenner Public Works at 468-7515 or the Jefferson Parish Department of Drainage at 504-736-6578. For harmful activities around the levee systems, contact the East Jefferson Levee District administrative office at 504-733-0087 or in an emergency situation, call 911. The importance of protecting our flood prevention resources cannot be overstated.