Friday, January 26, 2007                                                              Printable Version (PDF)

Sacramento, CA – Standing atop one of the repaired levee at Sacramento River mile 53.1 in the Pocket area, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (CA-5) announced that the Pocket area levees have been certified to protect the residents from a 100-year flood event (click here to view certification letter).  Matsui joined with Sacramento’s flood protection partners – the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the Department of Water Resources (DWR), and the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) – to mark the completion of $60 million worth of work on the area levees that provides increased protection for the 100,000 residents of the area. 

“Today we mark an important milestone in our effort to improve Sacramento’s level of flood protection – the Pocket’s levees will protect against a 100-year flood event. This announcement is a reminder that flood protection is about protecting people.  Some 100,000 people will be protected from a 100-year event,” stated Congresswoman Matsui.  “This also means that SAFCA can now apply to FEMA for new flood maps and lower flood insurance for the residents of the Pocket.”

Since June, the Corps, DWR, and SAFCA have coordinated to strengthen and improve levees at more than a dozen sites along the Sacramento River and complete the first phase of the Sacramento Streams Project.  The completion of this work was required for the Corps to certify that the levees met the FEMA criteria to protect against a “base flood event,” which has a one-percent chance of occurring in any given year – 100-year flood.

In commenting on the coordination Matsui added, “The certification is the result of a $60 million infusion of funds and nine months of dedicated effort. This is truly a remarkable accomplishment when you consider the sheer amount of work and commitment that it took to reach this point.  It is a testament to what can be accomplished when we all work together and focus on a common goal.”

Matsui also noted the importance of taking advantage of the lower rates and that residents should maintain their flood insurance. “I also want to reiterate – regardless of any certification from FEMA or the Corps or anyone else – if you live behind a levee, you should purchase flood insurance.  It’s not smart to leave yourself vulnerable to a flood event.”

The Corps’ certification helps SAFCA clear a significant obstacle for achieving revised FEMA floodplain mapping and subsequent accreditation into the agency’s National Flood Insurance Program – a move that will greatly reduce flood insurance rates for Pocket area residents.  However, homeowners paying off a 30-year loan still have a 26 percent chance of being flooded before they make their final mortgage payment.

Concluded Matsui, “While this is a time to acknowledge the hard work we have done, I want to be clear…. there is more hard work ahead.  Our unique position at the confluence of two great rivers guarantees that.  Sacramento is our state capital … the hub of the regional economy … and a wonderful place that we all call home.  That calls for investment by our state … our country … and our people.  If we keep working together … and keep remembering why these investments are so worthwhile … we will get the job done.”

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