In anticipation of the potential of heavy rainfall forecast between Saturday, February 28th and Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015, due to a deep trough and subsequent heavy moisture moving into and through the greater Yavapai County area, the Yavapai County Flood Control District encourages residents and visitors within Yavapai County to be prepared for heavy runoff and flash flooding. At this time, the National Weather Service is predicting the potential for rainfall of 1” to 4” over the course of 4+ days, and possibly 4-5” in higher elevations. Snow levels are currently predicted to be in the 6500’ to 7500’ elevation range, per the National Weather Service.

The Flood Control District encourages residents and visitors to be alert and aware of the conditions surrounding this anticipated event. Keep informed via radio, television, the internet (National Weather Service), NOAA weather radio, and through the Yavapai County Emergency Management Regional Alert website. Also, the District recommends that residents and visitors review its Flood Safety page and be prepared before an event occurs.

A few additional reminders to help get prepared and to keep you safe:

• Clean out drainage ditches and drainage pipes
• Secure or remove personal property that is in an area where storm water flows
• Raise personal property on blocks in and around your home if it is prone to flooding
• Get sand and prepare sand bags (locations of local sand bag availability is at the Emergency Management Regional Alert website)
• Contact your insurance agent to check your flood insurance coverage
• Stay informed and ahead of the storm by checking the local weather forecasts
• During heavy rainfall events, plan to stay put and not drive where flooding may occur
• Do not enter flooded roadway intersections or washes
• If you accidentally drive onto a flooded street, turn around if you can do so safely and drive to higher ground

On April 1, 2015, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will implement additional changes to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as directed by the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (HFIAA) and Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. Some flood insurance policy holders may see significant increases in what they pay compared to prior years. Read more…

Yavapai County and the Flood Control District have been working towards adoption of the new Yavapai County Drainage Design Manual in early 2015.  The revamped manual will replace the existing Yavapai County Drainage Criteria Manual that has been in place since 1998 and was last revised in 2005.  For more information on the new manual and to review the final proposed version of the complete document, please visit:  Yavapai County Drainage Design Manual information.

In anticipation of the potential of heavy rainfall forecast between Tuesday, September 16^th and Friday, September 19^th, 2014, due to Hurricane Odile converging with monsoon moisture, the Yavapai County Flood Control District encourages residents and visitors within Yavapai County to be prepared for heavy runoff and flash flooding.  At this time, it is unknown if the remnants of Odile will continue its current path towards Yavapai County, or shift to the east, but a moist air mass will certainly extend into the County, resulting in rainfall that can be potentially severe at times.  With the significant monsoon season that much of Yavapai County has already experienced, soil conditions are such that storm water runoff may be higher than normal.

The Flood Control District encourages residents and visitors to be alert and aware of the conditions surrounding this week’s anticipated event.  Keep informed via radio, television, the internet, NOAA weather radio, and through the Yavapai County Emergency Management Regional Alert website. Also, the District recommends that residents and visitors review its Flood Safety page and be prepared before an event occurs.

A few additional reminders to help get prepared and to keep you safe:

• Clean out drainage ditches and drainage pipes
• Secure or remove personal property that is in an area where storm water flows
• Raise property on blocks in and around your home if it is prone to flooding
• Get sand and prepare sand bags (locations of local sand bag availability is at the Emergency Management Regional Alert website)
• Contact your insurance agent to check your flood insurance coverage
• Stay informed and ahead of the storm by checking the local weather forecasts
• During heavy rainfall events, plan to stay put and not drive where flooding may occur
• Do not enter flooded roadway intersections or washes
• If you accidentally drive onto a flooded street, turn around if you can do so safely and drive to higher ground

The Yavapai Flood Control District is asking all contractors to prepare their construction sites for potential upcoming heavy rain and possible flash flooding (in anticipation of heavy rainfall due to Hurricane Odile).  Please remember to check your project sites to ensure your stormwater and erosion pollution prevention control measures are properly in place (in line with your SWPPP).  Please spread the word to others to ensure that all appropriate measures are being implemented to reduce pollutants from construction site runoff/erosion.

Things to check:

-check all wattles and straw bales. Insure they are properly placed and staked.

-check all silt fencing, insure that it is properly installed and no damage to the fabric is evident

-clean construction site and secure materials that are in areas where storm water flows

If you have any questions on proper Best Management Practices or their installation, please contact the Flood Control District at (928) 771-3197.

The Yavapai County Flood Control District is ending a multi-year project to re-examine flood risks and update digital flood hazard maps for the Agua Fria River area in Black Canyon City. The maps, developed in partnership with FEMA, will become effective on October 16, 2014. To learn more about the map changes and the latest in insurance laws, please visit the webpage set up for property owners affected by the changes. This website can be located by following the “Insurance For Map Changes” banner on the right side of this page.

If you would like to request a Flood Hazard Status Report for a particular parcel, please send an email to FloodStatus@yavapai.us with the following information:

• Parcel number (APN)
• Company/Individual Name
• Mailing Address
• Phone Number
• Comments or Special Requests
• Return Email Address

For any information not related to a Flood Status request, please use the email address web.flood.control@yavapai.us.

‘One Less Spark’ campaign shows how drivers can help prevent wildfires. For the full article, please click here

On March 21st, 2014, the President signed the Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act (HFIAA). This makes changes to the Biggert-Waters Reform Act (BW-12). The Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) has put together a document analyzing the HFIAA. Please read the attached document thoroughly and, if you have further questions, contact our office at 928.771.3197. You may also refer to our Reference Materials page to access this document in the future.

The YCFCD has completed the Big Bug Creek Detailed Flood Hazard Study. The new detailed maps will help residents along the Big Bug Creek better identify risks and make informed decisions about how to protect their families and property in the event of a flood.

The YCFCD will be holding a public open house on Wednesday, February 26th, 2014 from 4-7pm at Mayer High School. There, residents can speak one-on-one with YCFCD, FEMA contractors and insurance experts for more information about their specific property.

We are happy to announce the appointment of Dan Cherry to Director of the Yavapai County Flood Control District. On February 3rd, 2014, the Yavapai County Flood Control District Board of Directors appointed Dan to the position left vacant by the recently retired Charlie Cave. Dan has been with Yavapai County since 1997 and returns to the Flood Control District after having spent the last 10 years with the County Public Works Department. Welcome, Dan!

Need further information about the Biggert-Waters Reform Act (BW-12)? Please visit our Reference Materials page and find a newly compiled resource list via the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM).

Beginning June 3rd, 2013, the Yavapai County Flood Control District established new hours of operation at its Prescott location at 1120 Commerce Drive. The new hours are as follows:

Monday through Thursday: 7:00am – 5:00pm

Friday: 7:00am – 1:00pm

If you are a resident living in the Doce Fire or Yarnell Hill Fire area and are concerned about potential flooding, you may request a fire-specific Flood Hazard Request from the Yavapai County Flood Control District. We will be processing these requests daily. Please send an email to FireFlood.Hazard@yavapai.us and include parcel number or tax assessor number (APN), the requester information including name, mailing address, phone number, comments or special requests, and a return email address (if different than originating address).

Did you know that your home may be at a greater risk of flooding as a result of the Doce Fire? Visit our Post-Fire Flood Potential page for more information.

The National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program in which communities are rewarded for floodplain management activities. The program provides opportunity for discounted flood insurance premiums for policyholders in communities that participate. Communities are issued a class rating dependent upon the number of points earned through various participatory programs.

Yavapai County recently increased to a Class 6 CRS rating! This means a benefit of up to a 25% discount for policyholders within the Special Flood Hazard Area! Call your insurance agent to find out about possible discounts on your flood insurance!

This project will remove pollutants from stormwater runoff and has also constructed groundwater recharge basins for infiltrations into the Prescott Aquifer. Read more…