Heavy rain can cause urban flooding, and can happen far away from bodies of water. Flooding can happen when:
- The storm drain system is not big enough
- There are not enough storm drain inlets
- There is not enough green space to help stormwater naturally soak into the ground
Each situation can be different and can depend on a number of factors. Flood mitigation looks for the causes of flooding in specific areas, using modeling software to evaluate options that could reduce or eliminate the possibility of flooding.
In the past, flood mitigation projects have used these strategies to help prevent flooding:
- Adding new storm drain inlets and pipes so streets can drain faster
- Building stormwater holding ponds
- Building green infrastructure such as rain gardens