Notice to Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area Dear Resident: Our records indicate that your property is in or near an area subject to flooding. Please take a few minutes to review the following information. You may find it helpful in protecting your property during the next flood event. If you have any questions about the information in this letter, please contact the City of San Marcos Engineering Department at 512.393.8130  or visit our offices on the second floor of the Municipal Court Building at 630 E. Hopkins St.  Further information can be found on the City Engineering Department's website. Flooding in our city is caused by three sources: the San Marcos River, the Blanco River, and Purgatory Creek. Floodwaters can cover many blocks up to three or four feet deep. Flooding in all three areas can come with little warning. A flood in October of 1998 covered streets within 30 minutes of forming. In November of 2001 the Blanco River flooded within an hour after a thunderstorm started. Floods are also dangerous. Even though they appear to move slowly (three feet per second), a flood two feet deep can knock a man off his feet and float a car. Your property may be high enough that it was not flooded recently. However, it can still be flooded in the future because the next flood could be worse. If you are in the floodplain, the odds are that someday your property will be damaged. This notice gives you some ideas of what you can do to protect yourself. City Flood Services: The first thing you should do is check your flood hazard. Flood maps and flood protection references are available at the San Marcos Public Library. You can also visit the Environment and Engineering Department on the second floor of the Municipal Court building behind City Hall to see if you are in a mapped floodplain. If so, they can give you more information, such as depth of flooding over a building’s first floor, past flood problems in the area, and copies of elevation certificates on buildings built in the floodplain since 1991. Even if you are not in a floodplain, there still may be some risk of flooding. If requested, the Environment and Engineering Department will visit a property to review its flood problem and explain ways to stop flooding or prevent flood damage. Call the Department at 393-8130. These services are free. If you are in a floodplain or have had a flood, drainage or sewer backup problem, check out these sources of assistance. What You Can Do: Several of the City’s efforts depend on your cooperation and assistance. Here is how you can help: Drainage: Do not dump or throw anything into the ditches or streams. It is illegal to dump in our ditches and 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 City has a stream maintenance program which can help remove major blockages such as downed trees in public easements and rights of way. If you see dumping or debris in the ditches or streams, contact the Environment and Engineering Department at 393-8130. Permits: Always check with the Environment and Engineering Department before you build on, alter, regrade, or fill on your property. A permit may be needed to ensure that projects do not cause problems on other properties. If you see building or filling without a City permit sign posted, contact the Engineering Dept. at 393-8130. Check out the following information on floodproofing, flood insurance and flood safety. Floodproofing: There are several different ways to protect a building from flood damage. One way is to keep the water away by regrading your lot or building a small floodwall or earthen berm. These methods work if your lot is large enough, if flooding is not too deep, and if your property is not in the floodway. The Environment and Engineering Department can provide this information. Another approach is to make your walls waterproof and place watertight closures over the doorways. This method is not recommended for houses with basements or if water will get over two feet deep. A third approach is to raise the house above flood levels. A small wood frame house can be elevated for less than $10,000. Sound crazy? Check out some of the houses on Riverside Drive near Cheatham Street. The owners had a contractor raise their homes three feet each. Since the improvements the houses have not been damaged by flooding. Many houses, even those not in the floodplain, have sewers that back up into the basement during heavy rains. A plug or standpipe can stop this if the water doesn’t get more than one or two feet deep. They can be purchased at a hardware store for under $25. For deeper sewer backup flooding, talk to a plumber about overhead sewers or a backup valve. These measures are called floodproofing or retrofitting. More information is available at the Environment and Engineering Department. Important note: Any alteration to your building or land requires a permit from the Environment and Engineering Department. Even regrading or filling in the floodplain requires a permit. If you know a flood is coming, you should shut off the gas and electricity and move valuable contents upstairs. It is unlikely that you will get much warning, so a detailed checklist prepared in advance would help ensure that you don’t forget anything. Flood Insurance: If you don’t have flood insurance, talk to your insurance agent. Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. However, because San Marcos participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, you can purchase a separate flood insurance policy. This insurance is backed by the Federal government and is available to everyone, even for properties that have been flooded. Some people have purchased flood insurance because it was required by the bank when they got a mortgage or home improvement loan. Usually these policies just cover the building’s structure and not the contents. During the kind of flooding that happens in San Marcos, there is usually more damage to the furniture and contents than there is to the structure. If you are covered, double-check that the building coverage is adequate and make sure you have contents coverage. Remember: Even if the last flood missed you or you have done some flood-proofing, the next flood could be worse. Flood insurance covers all surface floods. Flood Safety: Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths, mostly during flash floods. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If you walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to ensure that the ground is still there. Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Don’t drive around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed out. Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. The number two flood killer after drowning is electrocution. Electrical current can travel through water. Report downed power lines to the Power Company or City emergency management office. Have your electricity turned off by the Power Company. Some appliances, such as television sets, keep electrical charges even after they have been unplugged. Don’t use appliances or motors that have gotten wet unless they have been taken apart, cleaned, and dried. Look out for animals, especially snakes. Small animals that have been flooded out of their homes may seek shelter in yours. Use a pole or stick to poke and turn things over and scare away small animals. Look before you step. After a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris including broken bottles and nails. Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be very slippery. Be alert for gas leaks. Use a flashlight to inspect for damage. Don’t smoke or use candles, lanterns, or open flames unless you know the gas has been turned off and the area has been ventilated. For more information please call the Environment and Engineering Department at 393-8030. Return to Flooding in San Marcos