A Couple Quick Items

- Ground was broken yesterday on a new levee along 17th Street, NW according to The Washington Post, which will protect downtown and parts of Southwest from flooding. As mentioned previously, a new floodplain map was recently done that shows parts of Southwest and downtown now fall under the flood plain, which prompted the city to get the levee built. Properties that fall in the new flood plain are required to get flood insurance, but this insurance will be temporary, since the levee will cause the flood plain map to change once the construction project is complete in 2011.

- According to the Washington Examiner, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood visited Amidon-Bowen Elementary School on I Street today to read the book "The Little Engine That Could" as a part of Everyone Wins! DC’s “Power Lunch” series. From the article:

LaHood, a former junior high school teacher, is a founding member of Everyone Wins! DC, the largest children’s literacy organization in the metro area. This year, nearly 4,000 students in 31 Title 1 public elementary schools will “lunch” with professionals through the group, which partners with 115 congressional offices, committee, and subcommittees, as well as 110 companies including 20 federal agencies.

A Couple Quick Items

- Actress Meryl Streep does her part to get the Senate to pass legislation to allow the purchase of federal property to build the National Women's History Museum at 12th Street and Independence Avenue by attending a fundraiser last week at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, according to WTOP. The House of Representatives passed the bill last October. Streep is an honorary board member for the group working to build the museum and serves as its national spokeswoman.

- Also from WTOP, the Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $4.6 million contract to Hirani Engineering and Land Surveying to start construction on a levee system next month on 17th Street, NW on the National Mall. A new floodplain map was recently done that shows parts of Southwest and downtown now fall under the flood plain, which prompted the city to get the levee built. Here is a map that shows which areas of the city now fall under the flood plain. Properties that fall in the new flood plain are required to get flood insurance, but this insurance will be temporary, since the levee will cause the flood plain map to change once the construction project is complete in 2011.

Coastal Flood Warning Issued for DC

The following message was sent by AlertDC:

The National Weather Service has issued a Coastal Flood Warning, effective until 1PM Monday. Water levels on the tidal Potomac River near D.C. are currently running 4 feet above normal. With freshwater runoff from recent rains & melting snow arriving from upriver tonight and tomorrow, moderate flooding is expected near the river during times of high tide over the next couple days. Next high tides at appx. 8:45PM, 9:00AM Mon, 9:20PM Mon. During this period, please stay clear of the Potomac & Anacostia rivers, as well as areas right near their banks.

Expect low-lying areas of Southwest to experience flooding like Haines Point, the Fish Market, and some residential areas.

FEMA Reverses Course on Flood Maps

Earlier this week, according to this article from the Examiner, FEMA officials decided to rescind its plan to expand the floodplain in Downtown DC after city officials said they would address flood concerns around the National Mall. If the new floodplain maps went into effect, homeowners and businesses in the affected area would be required to purchase flood insurance and developers would need to adhere to more stringent design codes. The expanded flood zone included parts of Southwest from 3rd Street to South Capitol Street and Fort McNair.