Prince George’s County urges residents to prepare for hurricane season flooding

Flooding can hit Prince George’s County even in places far from a river, and county officials say a single storm can leave homes damaged, roads impassable and insurance bills climbing. In a June 2 notice tied to Flood Awareness Month, the Department of the Environment said June marks the start of hurricane season and brings a higher risk of severe storms, flash flooding and property damage across the county.

The county is pressing residents and business owners to review flood risks now, not after rain starts falling. Officials say people should prepare emergency plans, protect important documents and valuables, and sign up for Alert Prince George’s, the county’s public communications system for emergency alerts, notifications and updates sent to registered devices. The county also told residents to never walk or drive through floodwaters, move immediately to higher ground if flash flooding is possible, avoid camping or parking near streams and creeks during heavy rain, and review flood insurance before storms arrive.

The financial stakes are significant. Prince George’s County says residents may qualify for savings of up to 25 percent on flood insurance premiums through the county’s participation in FEMA’s Community Rating System. FEMA describes the program as a voluntary incentive for communities that go beyond minimum floodplain-management requirements, and more than 1,500 communities participate nationwide. Prince George’s County says it is currently rated Class 5 under the system, which translates to a 25 percent reduction in flood insurance rates for local residents and businesses.

County officials are also tying the warning to long-term planning. The county and the City of Laurel share a FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan that identifies natural-hazard risk and lays out steps to reduce long-term losses. Prince George’s County says flooding can happen in localized low spots even when there is no stream nearby, while the Potomac River is subject to tidal flooding along its entire length in the county and the Patuxent River is vulnerable to tidal flooding up to the confluence of Western Branch.

The county’s flood history underscores why the warning matters. Its records cite heavy rain and flooding in August 1971, then Tropical Storm Agnes in June 1972, which caused more than $10 million in damage in Prince George’s County. FEMA says that Agnes flood was the largest flood of record in the county. Prince George’s County was accepted into the National Flood Insurance Program on August 4, 1972, and county officials say they continue to provide public assistance with FEMA flood zones and floodplains, along with a drainage-and-flooding report prepared with other county agencies.