Keyano College had approximately $55 million in property damages resulting from the flood that occurred in the spring of 2020. Flood restoration of critical infrastructure was completed by mid-August 2020, with some remediation still ongoing. As a result, Keyano College has not been able to secure overland flood insurance coverage and has been working with its partners to develop a plan to mitigate risk from future flood events.
“Keyano College is being proactive in our approach to avoid this level of devastation from occurring again. Utilizing a Tiger Dam system affords protection of critical infrastructure and gives the College time to develop a permanent flood mitigation solution,” said Tracy Boyde, Vice President, Infrastructure & CIO.
“The Tiger Dam system will be deployed in April and timed with the river break-up. The College will conduct an annual exercise of deployment as part of our emergency preparedness,” said Dale Mountain, Interim President & CEO.
KEY LARGO, FL – Monroe County is testing a temporary flood control barrier in the Twin Lakes community in Key Largo to help alleviate recent king tide road flooding. As one of the County’s pilot road elevation projects not yet constructed, this interim measure will provide relief to residents from the current tidal flooding.
On Friday, Oct. 2, temporary 24-inch high water-filled flood control barriers were installed by County staff and the vendor, U.S. Flood Control. The barrier provides a dam between the road and the tidal waters of Florida Bay. The barrier did contain the rainwater that fell last weekend on the road, but Monroe County Roads Department staff pumped the freshwater off the road once it stopped raining.
“This isn’t a permanent fix, but as of today, the barrier has been successful in holding back the high king tides from entering the road in all but one low-lying area where seawater was seen bubbling up through the ground near the road,” said Monroe County Engineering Services Director Judy Clarke. “We are in the process of securing additional barriers for neighboring Stillwright Point, and we hope to have them installed as soon as possible.”
After reviewing the Stillwright Point area, the barriers will provide a temporary solution to tidal flooding at the entrance of that community.
The barriers can be used during king tide season, which typically runs September through November and again in the spring, and then removed once the king tides or extreme high tides no longer cause roadway flooding. Once removed, they can be stored and refilled and reused the next season or in other areas.
In order of occurrence:
Monroe County Foreman Montello Desquotte helps U.S. Flood Control fill the barriers in the Twin Lakes community to help keep the king tide from coming into the road. (Pic: U.S. Flood Control)
Monroe County’s Ted Emmons removes saltwater from the street after the barrier is in place. (Pic: U.S. Flood Control)
Water Free: The Twin Lakes community in Key Largo received temporary waterfilled flood control barriers on Friday that proved to work during the high king tides over the weekend. The County is testing temporary fixes for extreme high tides. (Pic: John Glista, Monroe County)
