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Flood defenders tell commissioners county must update rainfall data and drainage standards; cite FDOT 2024 figures
Summary
A representative from Flood Defenders urged commissioners to adopt updated FDOT 2024 rainfall data and warned that using older rainfall metrics underestimates post-development runoff, potentially worsening downstream flooding and increasing infrastructure costs.
A Flood Defenders representative warned the Escambia County Board on March 6 that the county—9s land-development stormwater standards are outdated and that using older rainfall data leads to underdesign of downstream basins.
"What we—9re doing is we—9re putting a 16.2 unit cup of water in a 13.4 unit cup of water," said Chris Curb, who identified himself with Flood Defenders and referenced the FDOT 2024 rainfall data included in a land-development ordinance the board previously deferred. Curb said the county—9s older standards (which he referred to as 1979 rainfall data) have resulted in many basins and inlets sized to lower rainfall assumptions.
Curb pointed to recent county spending on Bayou Markers Branch B Basin (which he said had a $1,500,000 contract) and asked how many basins were built to obsolete standards. He said the issue is cumulative and affects down-gradient watersheds as much as internal subdivision drainage.
No commissioner action was recorded during the public forum; the comment was placed on the record ahead of the agenda item. The speaker said he was serving on a Santa Rosa County land-development code task force and urged Escambia County to update its standards to the newer FDOT data to avoid future overflow and additional public costs.
