Development in the 500 year flood plain costs the city of Ames more money than it receives in revenue.

In the article, “Iowa Cities State Legislators Opposed Flood Plain Management Steps” by the Iowa Environmental Council on March 11, there is evidence that a new plan may have been available to at least investigate before the flooding season of 2010.

The plan included two simple steps. First, there would be a development of a model ordinance for the regulation of the 500-year flood plain to assist the city. It would lay out language requirements for the purchase of flood insurance, place limits on new development to minimize future flood damage and categorize development that should be prohibited.

It appears that every trailer park in Ames is located in the flood plain, so thousands of low income families are now battling flood expenses as well.

Before the floods these families were struggling to get food on the table. However, now they are struggling to get food on the table and make sure their food does not get ruined by bacteria infested by flood water.

Even small businesses such as Happy Joe’s Pizza are forced to shut down because of flood damage. A family owned franchise was taken away after predicted devastating floods filled Duff Avenue.

Large businesses, such as Target and Wal-Mart, also witnessed devastating damage. Iowa State alone has more than $40 million in flood damage so far in 2010, according to the Des Moines Register.

With the proposed plan in March, these damages probably could not have been avoided, but for it to be opposed to even consider a new plan is astonishing after witnessing what happened in 2008 and now this year.

Current development may also be taken out of these flood areas if the city of Ames could establish a flood wall system near heavily developed low lying areas. While it is uncertain how much such plans would cost to implement, it would most definitely save the city of Ames millions of dollars and aid many families within the next few years.

Stating that there is a possible plan and seeking ways to fulfill that plan are two separate things. Someone needs to step up and make larger considerations for such distraught measures. Ames citizens need to voice their opinions and be heard. That is exactly what I am trying to accomplish and I hope it is the start of a new trend.