Storm Water Management

DID YOU KNOW?

STORM WATER MANAGEMENT

 Michael Bettenhausen, Trustee

Chairperson of the Public Works Committee

Village Flood Services : Flood maps and flood protection references are available at the Tinley Park Public Library. You can also visit the Building Department on the first floor of Village Hall to see if you are in a mapped regulatory floodplain. If so, they can give you more information, such as depth of flooding over a building’s first floor and past flood problems in the area. If requested, the Public Works Department will visit your property to review its flood problem and explain ways to stop flooding or prevent flood damage. Call the Public Works Department at 444-5500. These services are free. If you are in a floodplain or have had a flood, lot drainage problems or sewer backups, check out these sources for assistance. The village has numerous informational pamphlets that can also assist in this area. These pamphlets are available at the village hall or on-line.

What You Can Do: Several of the Village’s efforts to control storm water flooding depend on your cooperation and assistance. Here is how you can help:

• Do not dump or throw anything into the ditches or streams. Even grass clippings and branches can accumulate and plug channels. A plugged channel cannot carry water and when it rains the water has to go somewhere. Every piece of trash contributes to flooding.

• If your property is next to a ditch or stream, please do your part and keep the banks clear of brush and debris. The Village has a stream maintenance program, which can help remove major blockages such as downed trees and beaver dams.

• If you see dumping or debris in the ditches or streams, contact the Public Works Department at 444-5500.

• Always check with the Building Department before you build on, alter, regrade, or place fill on your property. A grading permit may be needed to ensure that projects do not cause problems to yourself or your neighbor.

• If you see building or filling without a City permit sign posted, contact the Building Dept. at 444-5100.

Substantial Improvements: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires that if the cost of reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvements to a building equals or other improvements to a building equals or exceeds 50% of the building’s market value, then the building must meet the same construction requirements as a new building. Substantially damaged buildings must also be brought up to the same standards (e.g. a residence damaged so that the cost of repairs equals or exceeds 50% of the building’s value before is was damaged must be elevated above the base flood elevation).

Flood Insurance: If you have a mortgage on your property and you a re located in a regulatory floodplain, your lending institution will require purchase of a flood insurance policy. If you are NOT located in a regulatory floodplain YOU CAN BUY FLOOD INSURANCE AT A GREATLY REDUCED COST. You might find that a good choice if you are in a flood susceptible area.

Village Flood Prevention Brochures

• Community Rating System ( 841 kB)
• Flood Hazard: Check Before You Buy: part I ( 833 kB)
• Flood Hazard: Check Before You Buy: part II ( 861 kB)
• Floodplain vs. Floodway: what is the difference ( 930 kB)
• Home Owner's Guide to Flood Insurance ( 842 kB)
• Home Owner's Guide to Lot Grading ( 854 kB)
• Home Owner's Guide to Residential Sewer Systems ( 3,551 kB)
• Home Owner's Guide to Residential Sewer Systems (Gravity Connection) ( 931 kB)
• Home Owner's Guide to Retrofitting ( 884 kB)
• Home Owner's Guide to Storm Water Systems ( 915 kB)
• Home Owner's Guide to Sump Pumps ( 875 kB)
• How can I Help Improve the Quality of Water in Tinley Park ( 1,842 kB)

        For additional information, please visit the FEMA website at   FEMA.gov