Do You Live in a Floodway?

Last week, eastern Prince William County saw the worst flooding since Hurricane Agnes in 1972, and many were left unprepared.

–which suffered the most damage in Woodbridge– will not be able to rebuild nearly two-thirds of the homes in the community, because the area is in a FEMA-designated floodway.

Because the park was built nearly 60 years ago, it was “grandfathered” in as an exception to the FEMA-designated floodway.

To find out if you live in one of the floodplains located within the 10 watersheds throughout the county, contact the county 703-792-7070. The interactive county mapper can also tell you if you live in a flood hazard, by clicking on the 100-year flood or FEMA floodways under “Environment.”

In Woodbridge the following areas are within FEMA-designated floodways:

• Easy Street
• The coast along the Occoquan River
• Marumsco Creek
• Marys Way to West Longview Drive cutting across Prince William County Parkway
• The area surrounding Marumsco Acre Lake Park.
• Neabsco Creek
• Powells Creek
• Quantico Creek 

The county has information on its website concerning flood insurance, permit and drainage systems here.