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<title data-react-helmet="true">Austin, Minnesota – Case study – Community uses local sales tax to help fund flood mitigation – Flood Economics</title>
<meta data-react-helmet="true" name="description" content="Community case study of Austin, Minnesota."/><meta data-react-helmet="true" property="og:title" content="Community uses local sales tax to help fund flood mitigation"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" property="og:description" content="After a devastating flood in 2004, this Minnesota town focused on proactive mitigation efforts, building structural protection around high-value commercial areas. With funding from FEMA, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grants and a sales tax initiative, the city was able to implement $24 million worth of projects to reduce flood risks to residential and commercial property, including the plant of Hormel Foods, a key local employer. These efforts prevented losses during another major flood in 2008 and have helped to attract new business and economic development to the city."/><meta data-react-helmet="true" property="og:image" content="https://www.floodeconomics.com/images/case-studies/casestudy-austin-main1.jpg"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" property="fb:app_id" content="878155462284110"/>
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<div id="root"><div class="styles__base___DpZv5 styles__column___3klyD styles__full___3p22y" data-reactroot="" data-reactid="1" data-react-checksum="-1952568616"><div class="styles__base___15EZr" data-reactid="2"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__position-fixed___12lLi styles__top-0___1R9MX styles__left-0___1_8Ag styles__right-0___3EHAk styles__float-left___2IV3I" data-reactid="3"><div data-reactid="4"><div class="style__productBanner___vShDj" data-reactid="5"><div class="style__dsNotificationError___j8c7J" data-reactid="6"><p class="style__bannerTextMain___1S-V3" data-reactid="7">Effective from September 25, 2020, Flood Economics will no longer be available and the site will be taken down.</p><p class="style__bannerTextSub___2VctQ" data-reactid="8"><!-- react-text: 9 -->Please be sure to download or save any information you wish to reference in the future. 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href="../flood-mitigation-takeaways.html" data-reactid="33"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F styles__icon___OohwS" data-reactid="34"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio styles__iconDark___CeGxU" data-reactid="35"></span></span><span class="styles__linkText___1gesu" data-reactid="36">Flood mitigation takeaways</span></a><a class="styles__link___14xj6" href="../how-homeowners-take-action.html" data-reactid="37"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F styles__icon___OohwS" data-reactid="38"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio styles__iconDark___CeGxU" data-reactid="39"></span></span><span class="styles__linkText___1gesu" data-reactid="40">How homeowners take action</span></a><a class="styles__link___14xj6 styles__active___1QFmR" href="../communities.html" data-reactid="41"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F styles__icon___OohwS" data-reactid="42"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio styles__iconDark___CeGxU" data-reactid="43"></span></span><span class="styles__linkText___1gesu" data-reactid="44">Community case studies</span></a><a class="styles__link___14xj6" href="../state-mitigation-analysis.html" data-reactid="45"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F styles__icon___OohwS" data-reactid="46"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio styles__iconDark___CeGxU" data-reactid="47"></span></span><span class="styles__linkText___1gesu" data-reactid="48">State mitigation analysis</span></a></div></div></div><div class="styles__base___15EZr" data-reactid="49"><button tabindex="0" class="styles__hamburger___zVdf5 undefined" data-reactid="50"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F styles__icon___1rMBe" data-reactid="51"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio" data-reactid="52"></span></span></button></div></div></div></div></div></header><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__hide-lg___3fpLc" data-reactid="53"><div class="styles__wrapper___32vmg undefined" data-reactid="54"><a class="styles__link___14xj6" href="../flood-mitigation-takeaways.html" data-reactid="55"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F styles__icon___OohwS" data-reactid="56"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio styles__iconDark___CeGxU" data-reactid="57"></span></span><span class="styles__linkText___1gesu" data-reactid="58">Flood mitigation takeaways</span></a><a class="styles__link___14xj6" href="../how-homeowners-take-action.html" data-reactid="59"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F styles__icon___OohwS" data-reactid="60"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio styles__iconDark___CeGxU" data-reactid="61"></span></span><span class="styles__linkText___1gesu" data-reactid="62">How homeowners take action</span></a><a class="styles__link___14xj6 styles__active___1QFmR" href="../communities.html" data-reactid="63"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F styles__icon___OohwS" data-reactid="64"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio styles__iconDark___CeGxU" data-reactid="65"></span></span><span class="styles__linkText___1gesu" data-reactid="66">Community case studies</span></a><a class="styles__link___14xj6" href="../state-mitigation-analysis.html" data-reactid="67"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F styles__icon___OohwS" data-reactid="68"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio styles__iconDark___CeGxU" data-reactid="69"></span></span><span class="styles__linkText___1gesu" data-reactid="70">State mitigation analysis</span></a></div></div></div></div></div><main class="styles__base___15EZr styles__full___Zfz32" data-reactid="71"><div class="styles__pageWrapper___3wPGZ" data-reactid="72"><div data-reactid="73"><div data-reactid="74"><!-- react-empty: 75 --><div data-reactid="76"><div class="styles__headerWrapper___LR-J3" style="background-image:url(../images/case-studies/casestudy-austin-main1.jpg);" data-reactid="77"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-5___11xId styles__padding-horizontal-3___30SBe styles__style-transparent___QOZpS styles__textBlock___2Tisl" data-reactid="78"><div class="styles__textWrapper___2yBsj" data-reactid="79"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__text-right___NZokr" data-reactid="80"><div data-reactid="81"><div class="styles__shareWrapper___3BdDE" data-reactid="82"><button class="styles__shareButton___1JEI4" data-reactid="83"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F" data-reactid="84"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio" data-reactid="85"></span><span class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-5___3Bh5r styles__font-size-4-md____d_7y styles__iconText___CNr6I" data-reactid="86">Share</span></span></button></div></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi" data-reactid="87"><p data-reactid="88">Austin, Minnesota</p><h1 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="89">Community uses local sales tax to help fund flood mitigation</h1></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi" data-reactid="90"><div data-reactid="91"><p>After a devastating flood in 2004, this Minnesota town focused on proactive mitigation efforts, building structural protection around high-value commercial areas. With funding from FEMA, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grants and a sales tax initiative, the city was able to implement $24 million worth of projects to reduce flood risks to residential and commercial property, including the plant of Hormel Foods, a key local employer. These efforts prevented losses during another major flood in 2008 and have helped to attract new business and economic development to the city.</p>
</div></div><p class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi" data-reactid="92"><span class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-5___3Bh5r styles__font-size-5-md___8U-pV" data-reactid="93">Photo courtesy of flood mitigation staff</span></p></div></div></div><div id="community-facts" class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="94"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-6___3IJ8r styles__padding-horizontal-4___1A4Mq styles__padding-horizontal-4-md___1abqY styles__style-dark___2u-lV" data-reactid="95"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="96"></div><span style="font-size:0;" data-reactid="97"></span><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-5___2vHLQ styles__title___1Tg1E" data-reactid="98"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="99"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="100">Community facts</h2></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="101"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__large___mTxZB" data-reactid="102"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F" data-reactid="103"><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="104"><div class="styles__wrapper___1OrPS" data-reactid="105"><div class="styles__numbersBlock___1uk1Q" data-reactid="106"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi styles__numberItem___3XHDm" data-reactid="107"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="108">Population</div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__hideAtPrint___yF5EP" data-reactid="109"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F" data-reactid="110"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio" data-reactid="111"></span></span></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__number___MextH" data-reactid="112">24,730</div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi styles__numberItem___3XHDm" data-reactid="113"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="114">Homes</div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__hideAtPrint___yF5EP" data-reactid="115"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F" data-reactid="116"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio" data-reactid="117"></span></span></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__number___MextH" data-reactid="118">10,873</div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi styles__numberItem___3XHDm" data-reactid="119"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="120">Businesses</div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__hideAtPrint___yF5EP" data-reactid="121"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F" data-reactid="122"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio" data-reactid="123"></span></span></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__number___MextH" data-reactid="124">1,527</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc styles__source___2vrAS" data-reactid="125"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="126"><span class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-5___3Bh5r styles__font-size-5-md___8U-pV" data-reactid="127"><!-- react-text: 128 -->Source: <!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 129 -->US Census Bureau.<!-- /react-text --></span></div></div></div></div><div id="mitigation-actions" class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="130"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-6___3IJ8r styles__padding-horizontal-4___1A4Mq styles__padding-horizontal-4-md___1abqY styles__style-light___29tp4" data-reactid="131"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="132"></div><span style="font-size:0;" data-reactid="133"></span><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-5___2vHLQ styles__title___1Tg1E" data-reactid="134"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="135"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="136">Mitigation actions</h2></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="137"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="138"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F" data-reactid="139"><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="140"><div data-reactid="141"><p>Sitting at the fork of the Cedar River and two tributaries, Austin, MN is a community of about 25,000 people. The town has endured repeated flooding events, with several exceeding the 1-percent-annual-chance flood level. Initially, flood mitigation focused on acquiring damaged homes in the floodplain that were deemed cheaper to demolish than to protect—which saved millions of dollars in damages and evacuation efforts during subsequent floods. </p>
<p>In 1991, Austin joined the Community Rating System (CRS) program, which incentivizes communities to invest in floodplain management activities. Since then, its rating has improved from Class 9 to Class 5, raising discounts on flood insurance premiums for property owners from 5% to as much as 25% currently.</p>
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="benefits-of-mitigation" class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="142"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-6___3IJ8r styles__padding-horizontal-4___1A4Mq styles__padding-horizontal-4-md___1abqY styles__style-dark___2u-lV" data-reactid="143"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="144"></div><span style="font-size:0;" data-reactid="145"></span><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-5___2vHLQ styles__title___1Tg1E" data-reactid="146"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="147"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="148">Benefits of mitigation</h2></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="149"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__large___mTxZB" data-reactid="150"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F" data-reactid="151"><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="152"><div class="styles__wrapper___1OrPS" data-reactid="153"><div class="styles__numbersBlock___1uk1Q" data-reactid="154"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi styles__numberItem___3XHDm" data-reactid="155"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="156">Economic benefits</div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__number___MextH" data-reactid="157">$38.2 million</div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="158">Total monetized benefits</div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi styles__numberItem___3XHDm" data-reactid="159"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="160"><span data-reactid="161"><!-- react-text: 162 -->Return on investment<!-- /react-text --><span class="styles__tooltipWrapper___2Cqls" data-reactid="163"><button class="styles__iconButton___1WYzf" data-reactid="164"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F" data-reactid="165"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio" data-reactid="166"></span></span></button></span></span></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__number___MextH" data-reactid="167">165.3%</div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="168">Estimated return on investment</div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi styles__numberItem___3XHDm" data-reactid="169"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="170"><span data-reactid="171"><!-- react-text: 172 -->Benefit-cost ratio<!-- /react-text --><span class="styles__tooltipWrapper___2Cqls" data-reactid="173"><button class="styles__iconButton___1WYzf" data-reactid="174"><span class="styles__iconWrapper___2jQ1F" data-reactid="175"><span class="isvg pending styles__icon___1uqio" data-reactid="176"></span></span></button></span></span></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M styles__number___MextH" data-reactid="177">2.6</div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW styles__flow-3-md___1QJ-M" data-reactid="178">Benefit-cost ratio of the Austin projects</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc styles__source___2vrAS" data-reactid="179"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="180"><span class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-5___3Bh5r styles__font-size-5-md___8U-pV" data-reactid="181"><!-- react-text: 182 -->Source: <!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 183 -->Federal Emergency Management Agency (2013): Loss Avoidance Study, Austin, Minnesota, 163 Building Acquisitions; update of March 2001 study.<!-- /react-text --></span></div></div></div></div><div id="project-challenges" class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="184"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-6___3IJ8r styles__padding-horizontal-4___1A4Mq styles__padding-horizontal-4-md___1abqY styles__style-grey___2p9Kc" data-reactid="185"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="186"></div><span style="font-size:0;" data-reactid="187"></span><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-5___2vHLQ styles__title___1Tg1E" data-reactid="188"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="189"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="190">Project challenges</h2></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="191"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__large___mTxZB" data-reactid="192"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F" data-reactid="193"><div class="styles__pull___CpmLW" data-reactid="194"><blockquote class="styles__quote____Pds- styles__align-right___2b_C-" data-reactid="195"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH" data-reactid="196"><div class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-21-md___1Is4t" data-reactid="197">One of the key challenges for the community was pulling together funding</div></div></blockquote></div><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="198"><div data-reactid="199"><p>After the 2004 flood, citizens demanded a more proactive approach to reducing flood risks to Austin’s most valuable assets. The city proposed a 20-year, 0.5-cent sales tax to fund proposed mitigation projects, explaining how the monies would be spent and how the whole community would benefit. Passed in 2007, that initiative, along with Minnesota DNR grants, FEMA grants and state money, has funded $24 million worth of projects to date.</p>
<p>So far, 11 of the 12 mitigation phases are complete, including a $1 million floodwall and berm to reduce the flood risks to the lift station near the Hormel plant and a $5 million project to build 1,100 (lineal) ft. of floodwalls and berms along Main Street. The city has also built levees, raised roads, extensively upgraded storm sewers and pumping stations, and launched the Cedar River Watershed District to reduce flooding from farms due to wetland tiling.</p>
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="quote" class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="200"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-6___3IJ8r styles__padding-horizontal-4___1A4Mq styles__padding-horizontal-4-md___1abqY styles__style-blue___3O8vY" data-reactid="201"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="202"></div><span style="font-size:0;" data-reactid="203"></span><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="204"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="205"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F" data-reactid="206"><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="207"><blockquote class="styles__quote____Pds- styles__align-center___M5Y34" data-reactid="208"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH" data-reactid="209"><div class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-21-md___1Is4t" data-reactid="210">“Having a local funding source has made our projects more economically feasible to the state and other funding agencies... It shows that we are coming to the table with our own dollars, which extends the ability of the grant dollars to go farther”</div></div><footer data-reactid="211"><cite data-reactid="212"><span class="styles__name___1XDAp" data-reactid="213"><!-- react-text: 214 -->Steven Lang<!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 215 -->, <!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 216 -->director of public works, Austin<!-- /react-text --></span></cite></footer></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="future-considerations" class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="217"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-6___3IJ8r styles__padding-horizontal-4___1A4Mq styles__padding-horizontal-4-md___1abqY styles__style-grey___2p9Kc" data-reactid="218"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="219"></div><span style="font-size:0;" data-reactid="220"></span><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-5___2vHLQ styles__title___1Tg1E" data-reactid="221"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="222"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="223">Future considerations</h2></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="224"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__large___mTxZB" data-reactid="225"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F" data-reactid="226"><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="227"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH" data-reactid="228"><img alt="Landscaping of flood walls protect local homes and businesses." src="../images/case-studies/casestudy-austin-future1.jpg" data-reactid="229"/></div><span class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-5___3Bh5r styles__font-size-5-md___8U-pV" data-reactid="230">Photo courtesy of flood mitigation staff</span><div class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="231"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-4___du4o8 styles__padding-horizontal-0___3AU1d" data-reactid="232"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="233"></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="234"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__large___mTxZB" data-reactid="235"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F styles__pullRight___olNqH" data-reactid="236"><div class="styles__pull___CpmLW" data-reactid="237"><blockquote class="styles__quote____Pds- styles__align-left___3MCiz" data-reactid="238"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH" data-reactid="239"><div class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-21-md___1Is4t" data-reactid="240">"The city of Austin has strived to remedy as far as possible the effects of major flooding events," notes Austin's mayor, Tom Stiehm. "While we will never be able to mitigate all the effects of our floods, we have extensively limited major damages through our efforts."</div></div></blockquote></div><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" data-reactid="241"><div data-reactid="242"><p>Austin’s efforts have paid off significantly. In 2008 the city experienced the third-highest flood in its history, yet this had minimal impact on homes and businesses. The project investments have also helped city leaders attract new businesses and support Hormel’s expansion plans, with assurances that their facilities will be protected.</p>
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styles__padding-vertical-0___3bjQ- styles__style-light___29tp4" data-reactid="251"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" data-reactid="252"><div class="styles__wrapper___208b4" data-reactid="253"><div class="styles__gridItemWrapper___3wOQr" data-reactid="254"><div class="styles__gridItem___2HvPo styles__size-small___3ZM52" data-reactid="255"><a class="styles__itemWrapper___3tOmW" href="shepherdsville-ky.html" data-reactid="256"><div class="styles__item___3EIg2" style="background-image:url(../images/case-studies/casestudy-kentucy-main1.jpg);" data-reactid="257"><div class="styles__textWrapper___3nUfy" data-reactid="258"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH" data-reactid="259"><p data-reactid="260">Shepherdsville, Kentucky</p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH styles__itemTitle___BI8E_" data-reactid="261"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="262">Flood-prone neighborhood is converted into a park</h2></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-0___CPS2r" data-reactid="263"><p data-reactid="264"><!-- react-text: 265 -->Population: <!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 266 -->12,082<!-- /react-text --></p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW" data-reactid="267"><p data-reactid="268">Riverine flooding, Flash flooding</p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi" data-reactid="269"></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW" data-reactid="270"></div></div></div></a></div><div class="styles__gridItem___2HvPo styles__size-small___3ZM52" data-reactid="271"><a class="styles__itemWrapper___3tOmW" href="jefferson-county-wi.html" data-reactid="272"><div class="styles__item___3EIg2" style="background-image:url(../images/case-studies/casestudy-jefferson-main1.jpg);" data-reactid="273"><div class="styles__textWrapper___3nUfy" data-reactid="274"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH" data-reactid="275"><p data-reactid="276">Jefferson County, Wisconsin</p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH styles__itemTitle___BI8E_" data-reactid="277"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="278">County uses grant funding to acquire more than 100 homes</h2></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-0___CPS2r" data-reactid="279"><p data-reactid="280"><!-- react-text: 281 -->Population: <!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 282 -->84,625<!-- /react-text --></p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW" data-reactid="283"><p data-reactid="284">Riverine flooding, Flash flooding</p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi" data-reactid="285"></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW" data-reactid="286"></div></div></div></a></div></div><div class="styles__gridItemWrapper___3wOQr" data-reactid="287"><div class="styles__gridItem___2HvPo styles__size-medium___3bAhV" data-reactid="288"><a class="styles__itemWrapper___3tOmW" href="elkader-ia.html" data-reactid="289"><div class="styles__item___3EIg2" style="background-image:url(../images/case-studies/casestudy-elkader-main1.jpg);" data-reactid="290"><div class="styles__textWrapper___3nUfy" data-reactid="291"><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH" data-reactid="292"><p data-reactid="293">Elkader, Iowa</p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-2___1zfOH styles__itemTitle___BI8E_" data-reactid="294"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="295">Flood mitigation investment delivers huge return on investment for small town</h2></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-0___CPS2r" data-reactid="296"><p data-reactid="297"><!-- react-text: 298 -->Population: <!-- /react-text --><!-- react-text: 299 -->1,213<!-- /react-text --></p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW" data-reactid="300"><p data-reactid="301">Riverine flooding, Flash flooding</p></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi" data-reactid="302"></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-1___12MnW" data-reactid="303"></div></div></div></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></main><div class="styles__base___15EZr" data-reactid="304"><div class="styles__wrapper___2vVYp" data-reactid="305"><div class="styles__offsetWrapper___3frZL" data-reactid="306"><div class="styles__block___1sQ1u styles__padding-vertical-6___3IJ8r styles__padding-horizontal-4___1A4Mq styles__padding-horizontal-4-md___1abqY styles__style-grey___2p9Kc" data-reactid="307"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc" style="position:relative;" data-reactid="308"></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-3___1NhMi styles__title___1Tg1E" data-reactid="309"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="310"><h2 class="styles__base___2aojS styles__font-size-3___cdFKD styles__font-size-2-md___2qWLP styles__line-height-1___wZ7lC styles__font-weight-bold___NRlaU" data-reactid="311">Flood mitigation resources</h2></div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-5___2vHLQ styles__copy___gYUAd" data-reactid="312"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__medium___3XvWl" data-reactid="313">Below is a non-exhaustive list of other flood mitigation information resources.</div></div><div class="styles__base___1fTlk styles__flow-4___3lIjc" data-reactid="314"><div class="styles__base___2Dzxc styles__large___mTxZB" data-reactid="315"><div class="styles__contentWrapper___20L-F" data-reactid="316"><div class="styles__content___pVmmZ" 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