2017 Annapolis flooding initiatives to focus on economics City officials looking at how sea level rise affects historic properties, businesses

In 2017, Annapolis' history and future will mix as officials look at how they can prepare for anticipated increases in sea level and nuisance flooding.

Annapolis officials will continue their sea level rise education programs and events into 2017 with an emphasis on how nuisance flooding and rising tides have an impact on businesses. This year's events will kick off with two flood insurance-focused meetings on Jan. 24 and 25. This continues the year-long focus in 2016 on how the city can adapt to rising sea levels.

Having these events and discussions early and often, before any major disaster, puts the city in a forward looking position to mitigate the damage of events like Hurricane Sandy and the flooding in Ellicott City, said Lisa Craig, Annapolis Historical Preservation Division chief.

"We started the program because we knew there was a necessity to update the natural hazard mitigation plan," Craig said. "It makes us a much more resilient city and we can withstand these natural stressors in a much more effective and economically sustainable way."

The ongoing debate nationally about rising waters and global warming tends to focus on broad ideas such as reducing pollution. But at the local level the focus must be tighter, so Craig and city officials are putting a greater emphasis on the economic impact that nuisance flooding has on businesses downtown.

So they have filled the calendar with monthly events focusing on that topic. January will highlight flood insurance while February will focus on flood proofing barriers, March will feature the State Highway Administration discussing road improvements and in May a town hall meeting will be held to show flood adaptation strategies to protect cultural resources. These events are still in the planning stages, and dates have not been finalized.

Annapolis had the highest average number of nuisance flooding days in the country with about 39 a year between 2007 and 2013, according to a 2014 report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Nuisance flooding occurs when rising waters create inconveniences such as road and business closures. This is most common in downtown Annapolis.

And since nuisance flooding downtown is primarily near historic buildings, it dovetails nicely with Craig's given mission of protecting historic properties within the city. Not only does a flood erode at that history when old buildings are destroyed, but the business owners working in those properties also lose out when customers and vendors can't access their services, Craig said.

For cruise and tour company Watermark, higher water and nuisance flooding makes it difficult for passengers to reach the boats. Roads will be closed or people don't want to wade through the water to get to the boat, said Debbie Gosselin, Watermark owner.

It can be a challenge especially when the nuisance flooding occurs during boat season, she said.

"It means there are fewer people that are potential customers," Gosselin said. "Anything that is deemed a turnoff or makes Annapolis less of an attraction at any particular moment can negatively impact our business during our season."

Annapolis has received recognition for its sustainability efforts thanks to efforts from Craig and other city officials. In 2016, the city kicked off its Weather it Together program with speeches that discussed how the city could adapt to the rising sea level. A 2012 federal study recommended planning for a 6.6-foot rise in sea level by the end of the century.

In 2016, the city held events hoping to educate residents, business owners and politicians about the city's risk to seal level rise. Annapolis Mayor Mike Pantelides campaigned for, and received, a $1 million grant from the Maryland state government to begin the design phase for flood mitigation projects.

That program featured commentary from oceanographer John Englander, who also met with The Capital while he was in town for the city's events. He advised adapting to the rise now instead of waiting to find out how high the sea will rise.

"It changes the shape of the map," he said last January. "What's going to be land and ocean?"

Annapolis was recognized for its efforts by the National League of Cities, which noted the waterfront-town as one of its 10 cities in the Leadership in Community Resilience Program. Those cities were brought together to learn more about their initiatives in the hopes of passing the information on to other cities within the league.

'Flood Insurance: What You Need to Know'

*Jan. 24 - The event is co-hosted by the Ward One Residents Association and will focus on residential property owners. It will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 80 Compromise St. There is limited seating, so RSVP to [email protected].

*Jan. 25 - The focus will be on businesses and is co-hosted by Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Annapolis Partnership. It will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 160 Duke of Gloucester St. RSVP to [email protected].

Credit: By Chase Cook - [email protected]