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Ramsey County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2018 Page | 61 floods, generally providing ample warning for people to move to safe locations and, to some extent, secure some property against damage. Nationwide, floods caused 4,586 deaths from 1959 to 2005 while property and crop damage averaged nearly $8 billion per year (in 2011 dollars) from 1981-2011 (Georgakakos, et al., 2014). During the past several decades, agencies have used the “100-year floodplain” as the design standard for projects funded by the federal government. However, today floods of that magnitude are occurring far more often than once per century (Natural Resources Defence Council, 2015). In recognition of increasing risks, in January of 2015 the President issued an executive order that updates flood protection standards that guide federally-funded projects in or near floodplains or along coastlines. These new standards require federally-funded projects to either build 2 feet above the 100-year flood elevation for standard projects and three feet above for critical buildings like hospitals and evacuation centers; or build to the 500-year flood elevation (The White House, 2015). Flood History in Ramsey County A significant amount of work has been done in past years in the county related to riverine flooding. Therefore, it has since decreased. Flash flooding, however, has been increasing. In June of 2014, parts of Minnesota received 10-12 inches of rain from the 14th to the 23rd, which was 400-600% above normal. In the Twin Cities, it was the wettest start of the year on record since 1871. The Minnesota State Emergency Operations Center was activated and the Governor declared a State of Emergency for 35 counties. The St. Paul airport deployed a flood wall, resulting in the closure of two of its runways. Floodwaters covered Harriet Island. Estimated total damages in Ramsey County was $1.9 million. The event resulted in a Presidential Disaster Declaration (DR-4182), which included Ramsey County. The total Public Assistance obligated by FEMA to the county was $2 million. Several highways and roads experienced significant flash flooding in July of 2011, when there was up to four feet of standing water in northern portions of the county. Property damage was estimated at $500,000. In March of 2010, there were numerous flooding issues due to the flood crest on the Mississippi River in Ramsey County. Communities from Mendota Bridge to Hastings on the river were hardest hit. NCEI damage estimates were $2.4 million. On September 20, 2007, a flash flood occurred in South Maplewood on Battle Creek, when two inches of rain fell in one hour. A few boys were playing in the creek, and a thirteen-year-old boy died when he was swept under a dam. Six homes were flooded, and a retaining wall blew out in the Swede Hollow neighborhood. The NCEI reported $200,000 in property damage. Table 19. Ramsey County Historical Floods, 1997-April 2018 Location or County Date Type Deaths Injuries Property Damage St. Paul 9/17/2015 Flash Flood 0 0 unknown St. Paul 6/18/2014 Flood 0 0 $1,900,000 Falcon Heights 6/21/2013 Flash Flood 0 0 unknown