HAMPTON, Va. — A new partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Hampton will help address flooding on the Virginia Peninsula.
The Virginia Peninsula Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study will investigate areas impacted by sea level rise, from Hampton to James City County. The $3 million federally funded study will analyze low-lying areas that have experienced repeated damage from coastal storms, rain and flooding.
The study will examine the federal interest and the feasibility of implementing measures that may include building elevation or floodproofing, nature-based solutions such as wetland restoration, and structural measures such as tide gates and floodwalls to help reduce the risk of storm damage.
The program is welcomed news for many on the Peninsula, who told 13News Now they have experienced issues with flooding.
“There is a ditch behind my house and the city did do something a few years ago to widen the ditch," Hampton resident Ramona Sullivan Mann said. "I think to increase the drainage but it still backs up sometimes.”
Larry Johnson recalled to 13News Now seeing high water during his time living on the Peninsula, with cars getting flooded out in some places.
"If they can solve the problem and do something about it, that’d be great," Johnson said. "It would save a whole lot of people a lot of time and trouble.”
In a statement, Hampton City Manager Mary Bunting said:
"Hampton has taken a very proactive position on mitigating the impact of storms and sea-level rise. This is a study we have been seeking for several years and are pleased that it is moving forward. We are very excited for the opportunity to partner with our regional partners and the Army Corp of Engineers. Floodwaters cross borders, and this comprehensive study is an opportunity for the Peninsula to have a regional planning approach for shoreline protection projects. The Army Corps’ study will provide an understanding of those issues and develop potential solutions that will make the region safer and stronger."
“We’re excited to partner with the City of Hampton and work with the cities of Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, and the counties of James City and York,” said Col. Brian Hallberg, commander of the Norfolk District of the Army Corps of Engineers. “This study aims to examine suitable, feasible, and acceptable measures to reduce the effects of coastal storms and strengthen the resilience of the Peninsula region against flooding.”
Based on the study findings, the city and surrounding communities will partner with the Army Corps of Engineers to develop a plan to design measures that will lead to construction that will tangibly manage coastal storm risk and improve the economic resiliency of the Peninsula region.