Preventing or reducing the impact of flooding is a vital responsibility of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services. The goals of saving lives and property from flooding became more urgent after Charlotte's devastating, 100-year floods in 1995 and 1997.  Storm Water Services' flood mitigation efforts in the minor system (creeks draining less than one square mile) usually involve capital improvement projects.

Floodplain management initiatives and program elements
Address overbank flooding in the major system (along FEMA-regulated streams draining more than one square mile) 

• Overview of CMSWS' Flood Mitigation Program

• Building a Flood-Resilient Future (summary of program accomplishments)

• Floodplain Acquisition Program

• Floodplain mapping

• Local processing of Letters of Map Change (LOMCs)

• Floodplain Development Permits

• Flood Insurance/Community Rating System

• Flood Information & Notification System for emergency responders
  

 
Current planning documents for floodplain management

• Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (2010)

• Risk Assessment/Risk Reduction Plan (Adopted 2012)

Previous plans that guided floodplain management efforts in Charlotte-Mecklenburg:

• Floodplain Management Guidance Document  (Used from 1997 to 2004)

• Flood Hazard Mitigation and Restoration Summary  (Used from 2004 to 2012)

 
The Flood Mitigation Program is part of
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services