Staunton's flooding an opportunity for innovation

The two natural disasters that flooded downtown Staunton point out several problems we face. First, FEME’s definition of floods. I’ve talked with Sen. Kaine’s office about just using the term, natural disaster so that FEME and state money can be used in emergency situations with less red-tape. The floods caused over $3 Million in damage, but the city received less than $100,000 in relief.

The City is now looking at a plan that could cost of to $40 million to address flooding downtown. This plan focuses on where the flooding occurred, but not on where the rainwater come from. As Ben Franklin said, “an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Yes, some of the tunnels could be enlarged and some other items addressed, but what if the state and local governments mandated using permeable parking lots and some roadways that would reduce the runoff and also filter rain water to protect our rivers and Chesapeake Bay from pollutants.

Let's not tear down historic buildings or structures that have stood the test of time, but incorporate them into new solutions.

These issues need innovative solutions and funding from the state and federal governments. I’ll ask, where was the former city mayor last summer? What is his plan to help? I will be active on issues like this and them a priority in Richmond and Washington I will be heard as a Democrat.

The Staunton community banded together to raise money to help people and small business owners, but this is more than the community should have to try and address themselves.

To view the Staunton Flood Study click here. ATLANTA quarterly meeting (staunton.va.us)