20 Years After Neighborhood Floods, Roseville Earns Top Rating For Protection
ROSEVILLE (CBS13) — Roseville not only excels at conserving water, but it also gets high marks for planning when there's too much water.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, it's the only community in the country that's earned a top rating for flood protection.
The top rating means better protection against Mother Nature. Back in 1995, a neighborhood was underwater as levels reached higher than some reporters. Now, it's no longer a flood zone thanks to a new levee.
Joe Kelly says the images of gushing muddy water is clear in his mind 20 years later. It was a flood so nasty, it wiped out entire neighborhoods and even drew then-President Bill Clinton to pay a visit.
"We've done all we can and as far as flood control improvements go," said Roseville floodplain manager Carl Walker.
Walker says the city has been hard at work since 1995 to meet federal flood standards. It now exceeds them and is the only city in the country to receive a Class 1 rating from FEMA.
The top rating means less flood risk and greater incentives. About 130 homes still in flood zones are eligible for a 45 percent discount on flood insurance.
The city spent decades improving infrastructure, from widening creeks to elevating homes and building bridges.
"It makes better use of the creeks in flowing water out of town, and that's what helps protect the folks in Roseville," he said.
At Linda Creek, which overflowed in 1995, there's now a bypass bridge that keeps water flowing instead of backing up into homes.
In Kelly's neighborhood, his neighbors across the street are gone—the city bought homes and installed a large levee. But he knows with Mother Nature, there are no guarantees.