Detroit Park floods, anyone living in the neighborhood will tell you that. Portsmouth has declared the area a "repetitive loss area" because of the extensive flooding and damage to area strucures.
What makes a Repetitive Loss Area?
- §It has suffered flood damage on two or more occasions during a 10-year period
- §The magnitude of the flooding problem is shown by repetitive losses in the community
The Costs of Repetitive Loss
- Through June 2008, Portsmouth had:
- §800 claims for losses of $5,691,448;
- §170 claims from repetitive loss properties
- §60 parcels considered repetitive loss
- §Repetitive losses totals of $2,012,743
- §0.15% of the total city parcels account for 35% of the flood damages
Portsmouth's Current Flood Ordinance
Sec. 14-1. Purpose.
…to reduce the loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, the disruption of commerce and governmental services, the extraordinary and unnecessary expenditure of public funds for flood protection and relief, and the impairment of the tax base
§Restricting or prohibiting certain uses, activities and development from locating within districts subject to flooding.
§Protecting individuals from buying land and structures which are unsuited for intended purposes because of flood hazards.
(Code 1988, § 14-1; Ord. No. 1991-97, § 1, 11-26-1991)