Rivers Flood Inundation Mapping

Pierce County Planning and Public Works has received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) grant to fund their Rivers Flood Inundation Mapping Project. The County is currently seeking a qualified firm to develop mapping and data that will help convey the history and impacts of flood risk reduction along Pierce County’s major river systems and adjacent floodplains. The mapping and data created will be used as communication and planning tools to demonstrate the progression of flood risk management and reflect changes and impacts to the floodplains along with their associated habits through time. Flood risk preparedness, communication, warning, response, and mitigation can be enhanced by a suite of maps showing the anticipated floodwater extent over the land surface. Inundation maps that reflect observed and forecasted flood conditions enable officials to make timely operational and public safety decisions before and during flood events. The availability of flood inundation maps will improve Pierce County’s ability to plan and respond to flood events, with the use of informed management actions through past and present experiences. With updated hydraulic models, it is possible to show a range of probable flood effects, enabling more informed, risk-based decisions to mitigate the loss of life and property and enhance community resiliency.