[Archived] City of Alexandria Begins to Implement “Flood Action Alexandria”

­­For Immediate Release: March 23, 2021

The City of Alexandria has begun to implement “Flood Action Alexandria,” a multipronged program to address flooding issues in Alexandria. The City is committed to working with residents and businesses to mitigate the impacts of flooding and providing opportunities for their involvement in the implementation of the program.

Flood Action Alexandria combines existing and new flood mitigation and stormwater management projects to achieve this goal. The comprehensive program expedites infrastructure improvements (through projects like the Sanitary Sewer Asset Renewal Program); expands flood early warning systems and signage; implements a flood mitigation pilot program to provide matching grants to property owners who install flood-proofing measures; and increases maintenance capacity, while increasing community outreach and engagement.

Residents and property owners can get involved through a City Council-appointed Ad-Hoc Stormwater Utility and Flood Mitigation Advisory Group. The Advisory Group, which is currently seeking nominations, will review and advise flood mitigation activities, monitor and measure progress of the City’s proposed flood mitigation efforts, receive and distribute information on the City’s flood mitigation implementation efforts, and review and provide recommendations on proposed Stormwater Utility operating and capital budgets. 

The City will provide information and updates on the progress of the flood mitigation program on the Flood Action Alexandria website and via subscription to Flood Action Alexandria eNews. Subscribe to receive information about how to help flood mitigation efforts; participate in community meetings; engage neighbors in the process; and provide feedback on the implementation of the program.

The establishment of Flood Action Alexandria follows City Council’s February 2021 approval of an increase in the Stormwater Utility Fee to enable more aggressive, accelerated implementation of the City’s stormwater management plan with a focus on flood mitigation. The City Manager’s proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2031 Stormwater Utility 10-Year Plan includes a Capital Improvement Program of $170 million for 11 capacity projects over 10 years; $2.5 million per year for spot improvement projects (eight to 11 projects per year); and $750,000 for the pilot grant program. The final FY 2022 budget will be adopted in May 2021.

Visit alexandriava.gov/FloodAction for information and updates on flooding mitigation and stormwater management.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.