The Flood Protection Program responds to requests from municipalities, state and federal legislators, county and state government officials and private residents to investigate flood problems within Pennsylvania and determine the feasibility of providing solutions to these flood problems. The program evaluates long term structural solutions to a community's flood problem by assessing the magnitude and frequency of flooding, performing a hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, evaluating flood control alternatives, estimating construction costs, assessing environmental impacts, performing an economic analysis to determine a benefit/cost ratio, determining local sponsor responsibilities, and if appropriate, preparing project design for construction. Types of flood protection projects include but are not limited to: concrete channels, concrete floodwalls, compacted earthen levees, channel improvements or a combination of a number of these types of alternatives. The main objective of the program is to minimize property damage and the possibility of loss of life. Additionally, the Flood Protection Program manages the inspection and rehabilitation of completed Commonwealth flood control projects within Pennsylvania.
Flood Topics
- Map of Pennsylvania Flood Protection Projects(opens in a new tab) (PDF)
- Annual Flood Protection Project Inspections
- Levee Safety
- Federal Flood Protection Program
- DEP Flood Protection Projects List(opens in a new tab) (PDF)
- DEP Flood Protection Project Locations(opens in a new tab) (KML)
- Disclaimer: The PADEP Flood Protection GoogleEarth .kml file represent the flood protection facilities constructed by the Commonwealth only and do not include local or federally constructed flood protection. Additionally, the data represents an approximation of project easements intended for general reference of project locations. The .kml file includes line work and filled polygons (project ‘footprints’) representing approximate project features and locations for informational use only. The data is not survey grade and shall not to be relied upon for engineering design or legal considerations.
Forms
- Flood Protection Manual(opens in a new tab) (Word)
- Flood Damage Inventory Instructions (Word)
- Flood Damage Inventory
- For Residential Damage (Word)
- For Commercial Establishments (Word)
Fact Sheets
- Flood Protection Program Fact Sheets(opens in a new tab) in DEP eLibrary
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Levels of Emergency Response for Flood Protection Projects
- Activities Impacting Lands of Flood Protection Projects
- Operating and Maintaining Flood Protection Projects(opens in a new tab)
- Pipe Installation at Flood Protection Projects(opens in a new tab)
- Developing Emergency Action Plans for Flood Protection Projects(opens in a new tab)
Resources
- Delaware River Basin Commission(opens in a new tab)
- Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development - Flood Insurance
- Federal Emergency Management Agency(opens in a new tab)
- Mid-Atlantic River Forecast(opens in a new tab)
- National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies(opens in a new tab)
- Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency(opens in a new tab)
- Susquehanna River Basin Commission(opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Geological Survey(opens in a new tab)