Contractors working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District install a 23-foot-tall concrete shaft enclosure weighing approximately 120,000 pounds as part of the guard wall at the Monongahela River Locks and Dam 4 in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, Nov. 16, 2023.

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Building Resilience: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hosts Flood Resilience Workshops for Chicago Communities Affected by 2023 Disasters

Chicago District
Published Oct. 9, 2024
Group of 3 people posing for a photo in recreation room.

Akilah Martin, Kira Baltutis, and Dave Handwerk from USACE Chicago District facilitated Flood Resilience Workshops for Chicago communities and government agencies to meet to discuss how they can work together before, during and after flood events.

Women stands with a microphone with a projected image behind her listing agenda

Kira Baltutis sets the agenda for the workshop

Close up of a map on a table as a person is pointing to it and another person looks on.

Participants work on a mapping exercise to discuss flood prone areas and ones that still need help recovering from 2023 events.

Group of community members listen to presentations from other outreach groups and government agencies on procedures and available resources to them with some taking photos.

Group of community members listen to presentations from other outreach groups and government agencies on procedures and available resources to them.

Community Planners from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago District, recently facilitated two Flood Resilience Workshops for both south and west side Chicago communities affected by severe flooding disasters in July and September 2023. Approximately 120 people attended the events held at both Foster Park and Intentional Sports, in Chicago.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Interagency Recovery Coordination (IRC) requested support from USACE to provide subject matter experts, community-focused resilience, discuss hazard mitigation, and help build foundational relationships. The workshop brought together Long-Term Recovery Groups (LTRG’s) represented by community members, as well as federal, state, and county agencies involved in flood-risk management.

“We are grateful for everyone being here. We are here to learn, be informed, and collaborate. We want to have everyone’s voices heard”, said USACE Community Planner, Kira Baltutis.

LTRG’s highlighted their recovery efforts during the floods to include working with disaster recovery agencies on clean up and providing supplies and volunteers to respond to the immediate needs of flood victims. Representatives from Good Neighbor’s Coalition, Westside Long-Term Recover, Southside Resilience Recovery Coalition, and the South Suburban Recovery Group shared their experiences, challenges, and needs with the agencies present and explained the still existing flood challenges.

“All the LTRG’s continue their important work in the communities for those affected by floods in 2023. This includes mold removal, cleaning out flooded or damaged homes, and making necessary repairs. Additionally, the LTRGs are supporting residents affected by the storms in July 2024, following the Cook County disaster declaration”, said Ja’Von Cotton, Public Assistance Appeals Coordinator for FEMA and Voluntary Agency Liaison.

As of October 7, 2024, FEMA has received over 125,000 registrations for assistance for the 2023 flood events.

Representatives from FEMA, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM), City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communication (OEMC), Department of Water Management (DWM), and Cook County Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS) discussed resources available for before, during and after emergencies and were available for questions and discussions after the presentations. They shared future planned projects to mitigate flooding and discuss long-term planning solutions.

For information on flood mitigation:

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_dr-4728-il_resilience_hm-nfip-resources.pdf

https://mwrd.org/community-action/you-can-help-prevent-flooding-and-protect-water-quality


Chick Lock

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