Flood Modeling, Mapping, and Community Protection

Flooding and the potential for floods in Hoosier communities is an everyday concern for local officials. Another concern is the cost to our residents and businesses who pay thousands of dollars in flood insurance when such a threat does not exist. Local officials need more and better information regarding flood protection, and the ability to truly manage this risk within their communities.

Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modeling
CBBEL engineers are leaders in computer modeling of open channels and detention facilities using programs such as HEC-HMS, HEC-1 and TR-20 for hydrologic analyses. For hydraulic analyses, our engineers are experts in the use of HEC-2, HEC-RAS, WSP-2 and WSPRO for steady state analysis; and are experienced in the use of FEQ and UNET for unsteady flow models. Many of CBBEL staff have taught classes or have given seminars in the use of these software applications. Our familiarity with the whole range of technical tools for flood modeling is unmatched. Our staff utilize these and other models on a daily basis in order to properly simulate flood conditions.

Floodplain Map Revisions
CBBEL has excelled in floodway and floodplain delineations for a variety of municipalities, counties and private entities. Using specialized skills in computer modeling and a unique familiarity with FEMA procedures, CBBEL has successfully prepared numerous Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) that have resulted in safe and reasonable floodplain usage for our clients. CBBEL staff are experts in the field and extremely knowledgeable of state and federal requirements for floodplain studies. CBBEL has helped communities and their citizens save hundreds of thousands of insurance dollars and enabled economic development projects to proceed by providing more accurate and up to date mapping of potential flooding. This understanding of FEMA requirements has also been helpful to CBBEL clients when proposing flood protection projects that would benefit from corrected flood hazard mapping.

Flood Protection Design
CBBEL-designed drainage and flood protection projects, such as the Pogues Run Multipurpose Project in Indianapolis, have won both national and local awards based upon their success and positive benefits realized by Iocal communities. These projects have been recognized by such organizations as the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, the Indiana Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Council of Engineering Companies. Similar large-scale projects such as the Striebel Arm flood control/wetlands project in Michigan City are complemented by many smaller stormwater drainage projects successfully completed for neighborhoods, and road projects around the state. As a final indication of our expertise in this area, CBBEL wrote the Indiana Drainage Handbook on behalf of the State of Indiana, another award-winning project which remains a primary reference and guidance document for drainage projects in Indiana.

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