Flood of 2009

In mid September of 2009, history was made in Douglas County and surrounding areas. More than twenty-one inches of rain poured down in Douglas County, making many residents and businesses susceptible to the flood damage. Flood damage estimates could total up to five million dollars, according to the Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority.

Most of the damage that occurred because of the flood waters may be covered under Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority’s insurance and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The two major wastewater treatment plants were not damaged; however, the pumping stations serving the plants were flooded. The Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority’s insurance will cover up to ten million dollars with a five thousand dollar deductible for buildings outside the 100-year flood plain. Structures built in the flood plain have a five hundred thousand dollars deductible. The flood also damaged the Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority’s storm water system.

A number of Douglas County residents lost their lives as a result of the flood, and many landmark bridges were washed away. Douglas County’s damage may have been worse if the Dog River Reservoir bridge had collapsed during the flooding. Dog River Reservoir is designed to handle only thirty billion gallons of water daily and, at the time of the flood, more than forty billion gallons of water were flowing down Dog River.

Murphy and Associates express our deepest condolences to all those effected by the flood of 2009.

Relevant Link:

September 2009 Flood Resources