Community-scale flood risk in under 5 minutes
Answer four sets of questions about your jurisdiction and we’ll generate a community risk score, vulnerability breakdown across drainage, zoning, and infrastructure, and a funding-aligned project recommendation list.
Jurisdiction details
Basic location and scale information. Used to look up relevant FEMA data, state programs, and regional risk patterns.
Land use and density
Development patterns directly affect runoff volumes and infrastructure loading. Select the options that best describe your jurisdiction’s dominant character.
Known flood zones and history
Prior flood events and FEMA zone distribution provide the strongest signal of community-scale risk. Select all that apply.
Infrastructure profile
Infrastructure age, type, and known condition significantly affect community flood vulnerability and project prioritisation.
Building your community risk report
Analysing jurisdiction profile…
Municipal flood risk report
Based on your jurisdiction profile, FEMA zone data, and regional risk patterns. This report is a starting assessment — a full professional survey provides definitive findings.
Vulnerability breakdown
Detailed findings across the three primary vulnerability categories — drainage, zoning, and infrastructure gaps. Use the tabs to navigate each domain.
Combined sewer overflow (CSO)
CriticalCombined sewer system regularly overflows during storm events exceeding 1-inch/hour rainfall. Overflow frequency has increased 40% over the past decade as storm intensity rises. Peak capacity reached at historically moderate events.
Culvert undersizing
HighApproximately 34% of mapped culverts are sized for 10-year storm events. Updated precipitation data indicates these culverts now have effective return periods of 4–6 years, causing routine backflow into residential areas.
Stormwater detention capacity
HighExisting detention basins were designed for a 1970s-era land use profile. Impervious surface has increased 28% since original basin sizing, reducing effective detention capacity per unit area across most watersheds.
Green infrastructure coverage
MediumBioretention, permeable pavement, and urban tree canopy collectively intercept approximately 8% of stormwater volume — well below peer community benchmarks of 18–22%. Significant expansion opportunity in commercial and residential corridors.
In SFHA
Of jurisdiction land area within FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area — well above national average of 8%. Includes significant residential and commercial development approved prior to current floodplain ordinance standards.
Development in floodplain
Of SFHA is developed with permanent structures. Approximately 34,000 parcels face mandatory flood insurance requirements. An estimated 12,000 are non-compliant or under-insured based on NFIP participation data.
Flood buffer intact
Of riparian corridors and wetland buffers remain undeveloped. This represents significant natural flood storage capacity that should be protected through conservation easement or zoning overlay to prevent future development pressure.
Recommended actions
Ranked by the combination of risk reduction impact, cost-effectiveness, and FEMA funding eligibility. Completing the top three actions would reduce the community risk score by an estimated 18–24 points.
CSO capacity upgrade — priority watersheds
Phase 1 combined sewer upgrade targeting the three highest-overflow watersheds. Adds 35% capacity buffer against current 100-year storm events. Eliminates routine overflow for storms up to 2-inch/hour intensity.
Phase project across 3 years to manage capital budget. Qualifies for BRIC and EPA Clean Water SRF. Engineering and environmental review: est. 14 months.
BRIC + EPA SRF eligibleCulvert replacement programme — priority 34%
Replace the 34% of undersized culverts in identified backflow zones, prioritised by number of affected parcels and proximity to repetitive loss clusters. Phase 1 targets top 80 culverts affecting est. 6,200 parcels.
Eligible under BRIC as a community-scale drainage project. Benefit-cost ratio estimated 4.2:1 based on repetitive loss data. Bundle with detention upgrades to strengthen application.
BRIC eligibleFMA repetitive loss cluster — acquisition and elevation
Target the 4,200 identified repetitive loss properties across 8 zip codes for structured FMA grant applications. Priority: severe repetitive loss properties (SRL) which qualify for 100% federal cost share — zero local match required.
FMA SRL properties require no local match. Begin with property owner outreach in highest-density SRL clusters. Floodplain manager to initiate sub-application in next FMA cycle.
FMA 100% federal (SRL)Zoning ordinance update — align with current FIRM and precipitation data
Update floodplain ordinance to reflect current FEMA FIRM panels (2023), updated IDF curves, and best practices for cumulative substantial improvement tracking. Prevent future development that compounds the existing risk profile.
No capital outlay — planning and legal cost only. Prerequisite for maintaining NFIP participation and Community Rating System (CRS) credit points that reduce resident insurance premiums.
CRS credit eligibleLevee inspection and recertification
Commission engineering inspection and FEMA accreditation review for the primary levee protecting 3,400 parcels. Subsidence detected in two segments requires geotechnical investigation before next certification window.
Levee decertification triggers mandatory flood insurance for 3,400 parcels — significant resident cost burden. Inspection is lower cost than consequences of inaction. FEMA BRIC covers levee safety projects.
BRIC levee safety eligibleFunding alignment
Based on your jurisdiction profile, disaster declaration history, and project types, these federal and state programs are most likely to fund your priority projects — with estimated award ranges and key eligibility factors.
BRIC — Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
Best fit for the CSO upgrade, culvert programme, and detention basin expansion. BRIC prioritises climate-adaptive infrastructure — combined sewer and drainage projects in communities with documented repetitive loss score highly.
FMA — Flood Mitigation Assistance
Direct fit for the repetitive loss acquisition and elevation programme. 4,200 identified RL and SRL properties represent a strong FMA application — SRL properties carry zero local match requirement.
CDBG-DR — Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery
If your jurisdiction has had a recent presidential disaster declaration, CDBG-DR funds can cover the local match requirements for BRIC and FMA — effectively making federal mitigation grants available at near-zero local cost.
State resilience and stormwater grants
Most states operate supplemental mitigation and stormwater programs that can fund projects below FEMA’s competitive threshold or cover the local match for federal applications. Check with your state hazard mitigation officer for current open windows.
Ready to take the next step?
Oiriunu connects your municipality with grant writers, floodplain management specialists, and vetted engineering partners who can move your priority projects from assessment to funded application.