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City staff launches effort to develop first Staunton flood‑resiliency plan to qualify for grants
Summary
Environmental Programs Administrator Willow Hughes outlined a citywide flood resiliency planning effort using Wiley Wilson and WSSI as consultant partners, a steering committee of staff, and community engagement; plan expected in about nine months and will help meet grant requirements.
Willow Hughes, the city’s environmental programs administrator, briefed council on May 8 about a citywide flood‑resiliency plan — the first such plan for Staunton — that the city is starting with consultant Wiley Wilson and subcontractor WSSI.
Hughes said the scope will “aid in the identification of flood‑prone areas and establish a prioritization of needs,” producing a plan framework that addresses repetitive flooding, preparedness and resiliency. She contrasted the current project with a prior 2020 wharf‑specific flood study that focused on engineered fixes; Hughes said many wharf projects were “not really feasible” and that the new plan “will look at the whole city” and may recommend a mix of engineered projects, education, alert‑system improvements and other measures.
Hughes said the consultant will work with a staff steering committee that the city is currently forming; the plan will also use public events, online surveys and social media for community input. She said the plan is a requirement for certain grants and that speed is important to unlock available funding, particularly for the wharf. Hughes said the city hopes to begin community outreach in mid‑June and complete the project in roughly nine months.
