Floodplain Management
In 1937 Huntington was devastated by severe flooding. The Ohio River reached a depth of nearly 70 feet in the Huntington area, which was more than 19 feet above the official flood stage. The massive flood provoked the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to build a flood wall to protect the City. The flood wall has done wonders in preventing massive flooding from the Ohio River, but areas around local tributaries are still prone to flooding.
The Guyandotte River and Big Sandy River both empty into the Ohio River, and subsequently, when the Ohio River begins to rise, backup occurs on the two smaller rivers prompting local tributaries to also flood. Today, Huntington’s floodplain primarily consist of the areas surrounding Four-Pole Creek and Krouts Creek. Approximately 400 properties are located within a designated floodplain.
The City of Huntington has additional regulations for any development that takes place in the floodplain. Development in a flood prone area requires a Floodplain Permit. An Elevation Certificate to be conducted by a certified surveyor is also required for all development that takes place. WV Flood Tool can be used to determine if a property is in the designated floodplain.