Escambia Scorecard Explained

12 Common Sense Tests For Flood Readiness

PLAN

Have a good flood protection plan

Test 1 | Are your maps complete?

Flood maps are hard to read and don't show true flood risk. The county's property lookup tool allows users to look up their flood zone but doesn't interpret what it means

Test 2 | Do you prioritize the worst areas?

Escambia County is notifying owners of repeatedly flooding properties but doesn't have a plan to address their risk

Test 3 | Is your plan specific?

FD was able to find a clear, specific Stormwater Management Plan. However, Escambia hasn't identified clear funding sources and is years behind schedule

PROTECT

Don't let new development make flooding worse

Test 4 | Do you make sure new development doesn’t cause new problems?

Escambia requires that large developments take steps not to exacerbate runoff, but doesn't sufficiently enforce these requirements

Test 5 | Do you avoid putting critical facilities in risky places?

Escambia lacks specific regulations to protect critical services or especially vulnerable areas

Test 6 | Are you proactively reaching out to the community?

FD was unable to find evidence of meaningful outreach on flood protection to citizens, and the county isn't consistently updating residents on progress

INVEST

Make smart investments

Test 7 | Do you have a buyout program?

Escambia has the largest loss on repeatedly flooded properties in Florida. While Escambia County has bought out homes in the past, the county's buyout efforts are underfunded and insufficient

Test 8 | Have you protected the most important areas?

FD was unable to identify a program aimed at protecting critical services from flooding

Test 9 | Do you have sufficient funding?

Escambia County's stormwater management and flood protection projects are hugely underfunded - only 8% of projects planned by the county in 2014 have been funded

REPAIR

Maintain and repair stormwater drainage

Test 10 | Do you know where your drainage is?

Escambia County doesn't have a public map of drainage and flood protection or status of drainage and flood protection systems

Test 11 | Is your drainage well-maintained?

Escambia's stormwater maintenance staff is chronically understaffed, letting maintenance issues linger for too long

Test 12 | Can citizens report issues?

FD was able to find a public portal with easily accessible survey to report flooding and drainage issues

How we grade each county on their flood readiness

Flood Defenders grades each county against its 12 Common Sense Tests for Flood Readiness. These tests cover the big things counties and cities need to do to protect citizens from flooding: Plan, Protect, Invest, and Repair.

A good plan is the foundation of a county’s flood-readiness. It needs to clearly explain the risks to people and property by including accurate flood maps and information, show where the problem is most significant and how they can be addressed, and provide a specific plan of action with concrete next steps.

Test 1 | Are your maps complete?

Are flood maps easy to access, up-to-date, and accurate?

Do they account for flooding not just from storm surge, but also river overflows and rainstorms?

Do they account for flood protection measures the county has invested in?

Test 2 | Do you prioritize the worst areas?

Does the county have a clear understanding of which communities are most at risk of flooding?

Do they have a plan to improve their situation?

Test 3 | Is your plan specific?

Does the county’s plan clearly outline what projects it will tackle, how they’ll be funded, and when they’ll be completed?

: A good plan is the foundation of a county’s flood-readiness. It needs to clearly explain the risks to people and property by including accurate flood maps and information, show where the problem is most significant and how they can be addressed, and provide a specific plan of action with concrete next steps.

Test 1 | Are your maps complete?

Are flood maps easy to access, up-to-date, and accurate?

Do they account for flooding not just from storm surge, but also river overflows and rainstorms?

Do they account for flood protection measures the county has invested in?

Test 2 | Do you prioritize the worst areas?

Does the county have a clear understanding of which communities are most at risk of flooding?

Do they have a plan to improve their situation?

Test 3 | Is your plan specific?

Does the county’s plan clearly outline what projects it will tackle, how they’ll be funded, and when they’ll be completed?
: Counties should invest well: in areas that are in real need of help and have suffered repeated loss, in places that provide critical services, and in areas with lots of citizens. And when counties invest, they should leverage every taxpayer dollar with bonds and state and federal grants.

Test 4 | Do you make sure new development doesn’t cause new problems?

Does the county have clear building codes that ensure new development (both large projects and single-family homes) doesn’t increase flood risk in surrounding areas?

Test 5 | Do you avoid putting critical facilities in risky places?

Do the county’s development ordinances prevent the location of critical public services and facilities in flood-prone areas?

Test 6 | Are you proactively reaching out to the community?

Is the county proactively and meaningfully reaching out to citizens in the community?

Is it providing clear, regular reporting on the flood problem and progress towards improving flood protection?
: It’s important that counties and cities guide development in a way that keeps flooding from getting worse. We certainly don’t want new homes to make a neighbor more likely to flood! So Flood Defenders looks for counties and cities to take smart steps on development.

Test 7 | Do you have a buyout program?

Is the county investing its own funds for buyouts alongside state and federal funds?

Test 8 | Have you protected the most important areas?

Has the county invested in protecting critical public services and infrastructure?

Are key roads accessible during floods?

Can emergency services, medical facilities, and public utilities (e.g., water, electricity) continue to operate during flood events?

Test 9 | Do you have sufficient funding?

How do you compare with other counties in flood protection investments and the ability to leverage local funds with bonds and state and federal grants?
: Clogged storm drains and leaky pipes make flooding worse. It’s vital that counties and cities maintain their stormwater systems. They need to know where their pipes are and whether they’re working correctly, double-check them before big storms, and give citizens a way to report problems and get them resolved quickly. Many cities underinvest in stormwater personnel.

Test 10 | Do you know where your drainage is?

Does the county have up-to-date maps showing stormwater drainage and flood protection facilities (e.g., storm drains, culverts, sea walls), their current status, and when they were last inspected?

Test 11 | Is your drainage well-maintained?

Does the county have enough staff to quickly respond quickly to requests for maintenance and repair of stormwater drainage and flood protection facilities, and does it proactively and regularly inspect these facilities?

Test 12 | Can citizens report issues?

Is there a clear and easy way for residents to report stormwater drainage and flood protection issues, including both maintenance needs (e.g., a clogged pipe) and requests for new infrastructure (e.g., a stormwater pond)?

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