Flood In Danville Case Study

In my community I have flood issue and properties in Danville’s floodplain are subject to three flood problems: overbank flooding, local drainage, and sewer backup. You could be faced with one, two or all three of these hazards. The major flood problem facing Danville is Flooding of the Susquehanna River. Since 1891, 56 floods have caused the Susquehanna River to exceed its channel capacity and inundate riverfront communities. Although some of the most notable floods were the result of tropical storms, the majority of flood events are attributed to snowmelts; 20 of the 25 largest floods of record occurred between January and April. Major flood events occurred in 1936, 1972, 1975, 1984 and 1996. Mahoning Creek drains from the northwest into Susquehanna River at Danville. Mahoning Creek is subject to flooding from heavy local storms and backup flooding when the Susquehanna River floods. Sechlers Run drains from the east and flows through channels and conduits in the Borough to Mahoning Creek. Blizzard Run also drains from the east into Sechlers Run. When Mahoning Creek is high Sechlers Run is diverted to a pumping station and sent into Mahoning Creek. Overbank flooding potentially affects the Borough along Mulberry Street on Sechlers Run. Flooding also presents a safety hazard. Velocities can be as high as 6 or 7 feet per second – so fast that the flood will wash people off their feet in only ½ foot of floodwaters. This is particularly true in sections of the Sechlers Run in concrete channels.

These include around Arch and Local Streets. Sometimes, flooding is aggravated by debris that has been carelessly thrown into the channel. Water that ponds behind the levee are