Flood Insurance
Tulsa is located in one of the most scenic natural areas of
Oklahoma. Unfortunately, many locations within the city suffer
repeated flood damages when torrential storms strike. Some of these
areas are not in a designated floodplain.
In the 1970s and '80s Tulsa County had the most federal disaster
declarations in the nation. In 1984, a flash flood caused $180
million in damages and 14 deaths. Since that time, Tulsa has made
tremendous progress. Dozens of flood projects have been completed,
and more are planned and under way. Tulsa has established an
award-winning, comprehensive flood program that is cited as a
national model. Overall, the risk of flooding has been
substantially reduced - but not eliminated. Because of its climate
and location, Tulsa can never be considered 100 percent
floodsafe.
Inevitably, Tulsa will flood again. Spring is our most
vulnerable time.
The Stormwater Drainage Advisory Board, a citizen board
appointed by the Mayor, conducts meetings throughout the city to
hear citizens' ideas on drainage problems. Public Works provides
the Board and interested citizens with updates on planned or
proposed projects at each meeting.
The Tulsa Hazard Mitigation Citizens Advisory Committee conducts
meetings to hear citizens' ideas related to flooding as well as
other natural hazards.
Most of Tulsa's creeks and rivers periodically have flash
floods. The flash floods usually have high velocities and are
extremely dangerous. Flood damages have occurred at various times
along the Arkansas River and numerous creeks, including Valley
View, Flat Rock, Dirty Butter, Bird, Coal, Mingo, Haikey, Fry,
Vensel, Fred, Joe, Hager, Nickel, Mooser, Cherry-Red Fork,
Perryman, Crow, Elm, Park View, Oak, Harlow and Bigheart.
Flood insurance is available for all properties in
Tulsa
Most homeowners' policies do not cover flood losses. You can
protect your home and contents through the National Flood Insurance
Program. You should obtain coverage for structure and contents.
There can be more damage to the contents than the structure.
Renters can buy contents coverage even if the owner does not insure
the structure.
There is a 30-day waiting period before the policy becomes
effective.
Flood insurance is required by law in order to obtain federally
secured financing to buy, build, or renovate a structure located in
a flood hazard area. This financing includes federal grants, FHA
and VA loans, and most conventional mortgage loans. "A General
Guide to Regulatory Floodplains" includes a map that shows where
flood hazard areas are in the City of Tulsa. The guide is available
from the Mayor's Action Center.
To find out more about flood insurance, contact any licensed
property/casualty agent or broker - the same person who sells your
home and auto policies. All agencies charge the same premiums. You
may be denied federal assistance after a disaster if you don't have
flood insurance.
Tulsa's natural floodplains
Many local floodplains have been preserved for recreational
activities and as wetland habitat for wildlife. A beautiful natural
area, Red Bud Valley, has been preserved and is open to the public.
Detention areas throughout the city serve as soccer fields and
walking trails when they are not storing excess stormwater. Also,
several drainage improvements include planting of special water
plants and grasses to improve their natural functions of wildlife
habitat and filtering nutrients and impurities from water.
While natural floodplains are inviting during sunny weather,
they can be treacherous during heavy rainfall or freezing
temperatures. Avoid entering these areas when flooding is
occurring. Skating on icy detention ponds also should be avoided
since the ice in Tulsa is usually too thin to support the weight of
even a small child.
Protect your property from flood damage
Over the years, the City of Tulsa has completed many flood
control projects to keep floodwaters from reaching buildings. The
City also regularly maintains drainage ditches and storm sewers to
prevent water from backing up into streets and homes. Despite these
efforts, the risk of flooding has not been - and cannot be -
completely eliminated. Therefore, citizens should take measures to
protect their property.
You may see what your flood risk is by examining the detailed
floodplain boundary maps in this atlas. To request a free, written
flood-zone determination contact the Mayor's Action Center and
provide the correct address and legal description of the
property.
In some cases, retrofitting existing buildings or regrading a
yard can help reduce the potential for flood damages to structures
and their contents. Retrofitting techniques include elevating
buildings above flood levels, wet or dry floodproofing (commercial
structures), and installing backflow preventers to protect floors
and contents from sewer backups. Structural barriers such as levees
and floodwalls may also be constructed to protect property from
floodwaters. Remember, a building permit may be required for
retrofitting or structural projects.
A publication of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
"Homeowner's Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your House
from Flooding" (Publication #312), includes information on
technical and financial assistance. The book can be obtained free
by calling 1-800-480-2520 or going online to www.fema.gov/mit/rfit.
Free Internet access is available to library cardholders at all
Tulsa City/County Library locations.
There are temporary measures you may take to protect your
property during a flood event. Plan ahead about where and how you
will move furniture out of harm's way. Keep materials like
sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber handy for emergency
waterproofing. Clear brush and debris away from storm drains and
ditches.
Qualified City staff is available at the Permit and Licensing
Center to discuss your options and to help you plan and build a
safe project while complying with City floodplain development
policies.
Building permits ensure safe construction inside and outside
floodplains
The City of Tulsa's permitting process is designed to ensure
that all construction in Tulsa is safe. A permit is required for
all new construction and, most of the time, you must obtain a
permit for repairing or replacing existing features. Before you
begin construction or add on to your existing building, find out
which permits are required by contacting the Permit and Licensing Center.
In addition to regular building permits, special regulations
apply to construction in floodways and the Regulatory Floodplain.
No construction, including filling, is allowed in the mapped
floodway without an engineering analysis that shows the project
will not increase flood damage elsewhere. Any activity outside the
floodplain but within a natural or man-made watercourse also
requires a permit.
A floodplain watershed development permit must be obtained from
the City of Tulsa before commencing construction, landfill, or
excavation in the floodplain. New buildings in the floodplain must
be protected from flood damage so our building code requires that
new buildings be elevated at least one foot above the elevation of
the City of Tulsa Regulatory Floodplain.
Homeowners who are planning substantial improvements should
contact the Permit & Licensing Center for a residential
building permit. Elevation or floodproofing may be required if you
want to construct a substantial improvement (the cost of the
improvement or add-on is 50 percent of the value of the existing
building).Permits also are required for a repair if it's more than
just cleanup after a storm. If your property is substantially
damaged (50 percent of the value of the building), federal
regulations may require you to elevate or floodproof before you can
rebuild.
To report illegal floodplain development or to verify that
proper construction permits have been issued for a project, contact
the Mayor's Action Center. An inspector will investigate.
Cleaner creeks: You can help
Tulsa's storm sewers were designed to divert excess rainwater to
creeks that flow to the Arkansas River and Bird Creek. It is
important to protect the quality and control the quantity of the
water flowing into the drainage system. City workers monitor the
system regularly for oil and grease, fertilizers, pesticides, and
sediment. Crews also routinely remove debris from drains and sewers
to prevent water from backing up into streets and homes when it
rains. Unfortunately, actions such as littering and dumping yard
waste and household fluids down storm drains can lead to blockages
between scheduled maintenance work.
Please do your part to keep the inlets and drainage ways clear
of brush and debris. Here are steps you can take to protect the
quality and control the quantity of water in Tulsa's creeks. These
actions also will beautify your neighborhood and reduce the risk of
dangerous flooding.
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Maintain your vehicle so hoses and reservoirs do not leak or
break causing fluids to spill onto streets.
Don't pour used motor oil, antifreeze, old pesticides or any other
pollutants into the storm drainage system. Contact the Metropolitan
Environmental Trust (M.e.t.) for proper disposal methods and
locations. (584-0584 or www.metrecycle.com)
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Apply fertilizers and pesticides properly. Read labels to
determine how much to use and when to apply the products. The
Master Gardener Program has volunteers who are trained to answer
questions about pesticides and fertilizers. Call the Master
Gardener Hotline at 746-3701.
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Use a mulching mower or bag your grass and leaves instead of
blowing the yard waste into the street. Yard waste can clog storm
drains and, since it is organic matter, it can reduce the amount of
oxygen in the creek. Fish need oxygen to survive.
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Pick up litter around your neighborhood or business place so the
trash doesn't collect on drainage inlets or clog sewer pipes. If
you see someone littering, report the incident to the Oklahoma
Litter Hotline, 1-888-5-LITTER.
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If you spot a blocked drain or notice illegal dumping, call the
Mayor's Action Center at 596-2100,
and an inspector will investigate. Putting foreign substances into
the storm sewer is a violation of City ordinance.
For more information on Flood
Insurance, visit Floodsmart.gov
