Flooding in Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin, et? (Los Angeles, Sacramento: condos, house, college)

[orchid1]

I know that Sacramento and a lot of the surrounding towns are at risk of flooding because they are in a floodplain, but what about the towns of Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin, Fair Oaks?

If a dam were to break or an earthquake to occur, are they at risk? I'm assuming "anything could happen" but just wondering how fearful local residents are?

Apparently the area is only second at risk for flooding (following New Orleans)? SCARY.

[usixly]

2nd after New Orleans? Seriously?

[wburg]

If Folsom Dam breaks, we can all pretty much reach for a life preserver. If Shasta Dam broke, likewise. But generally, Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin and Fair Oaks are far higher in altitude and not at risk of floods.

Sacramento itself is in a fairly precarious situation. Our levees are old and our ability to absorb water is compromised by sprawling development.

[Mr. Ozo]

Actually, we're 1st, New Orleans is 2nd. They just happened to flood and we haven't....yet. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.

[deuterdu]

Most of those areas have a lot of residential development in high altitude areas. However all of them also have lower areas that could be prone to flooding. You can check your street address at this website:
FEMA Floodsmart

[volleyballer]

Originally Posted by deuterdu

Most of those areas have a lot of residential development in high altitude areas. However all of them also have lower areas that could be prone to flooding. You can check your street address at this website:
FEMA Floodsmart

I checked out the website to see the flood risk of my house in Roseville knowing it's not a flood risk. It said low to moderate. Then I checked my friend's house in North Natomas, and it said low to moderate. Finally I checked my hometown of Mt. Shasta, and...wait for it... it said low to moderate too. I'm questioning the reliability of this site now.

[orchid1]

Volleyballer -

This is the article I found - not being from Sacramento I didn't realize what a huge risk flooding is. We're seriously considering moving to that area, and the article considered me.

That is why I asked about the specific areas of Roseville, Folsom -- to see if they were at as HIGH of risk as Sacramento/Natomas.

Sacramento prepares for the worst -- massive flooding - Los Angeles Times

[zen_klown]

By statute the California Department of Water Resources has to publish the best available flood map.

This is the map for Sacramento County. You should be able to look up the risk for Folsom here.
Flood Management > Levee Repairs & Floodplain Management > Floodplain Management > Floodplain Evaluation & Delineation > Best Available Maps > Sacramento County

This is the map for Placer County. You should be able to find Roseville here.
Flood Management > Levee Repairs & Floodplain Management > Floodplain Management > Floodplain Evaluation & Delineation > Best Available Maps > Placer County

If you want to look you another part of California, click on the county for the community you are interested here.

Flood Management > Levee Repairs & Floodplain Management > Floodplain Management > Floodplain Evaluation & Delineation > Best Available Maps

[edwardius]

There is two different types of flood risk. One is if a damn or levee breaks when you are trying to figure out what would happen. But the more common type of risk is with the local creeks especially when we have a period of several storms following in close succession. That is when there are problems on Dry Creek and that can cause flooding on the creek near American River College which occasionally tops the bridge on Winding Way. There are several condos in the Woodside complex off Fulton that seem to get flooded fairly often when the nearby creek floods.

While the loss of a damn or levee would take out a lot homes, the more frequent problem is probably with creeks or in areas where they rely on pumps to keep the water out. I-5 in downtown has flooded a couple of times when the pumps stopped working, that was part of the reason for the rebuilding of the freeway last year in that section. To repair sections that had been damaged in repeated floods.

I think the flood maps are useful for mentioning the possibility and area of impact if there is a flood, but it is still useful to talk to locals to get a better sense of frequency of flood risks in these areas.

[orchid1]

I guess I'm more worried about the giant catastrophic-type flooding (dams breaking, etc), although any flooding is not a good thing!

Thanks