How Tulsa Transformed from the U.S.’s Most Frequently Flooded City to a National Leader in Stormwater Management and Hazard Risk Reduction

FEMA has published a case study describing how Tulsa, Oklahoma transformed itself over the past 40 years from a city beset by frequent floods and other hazards into one that is now a national leader in stormwater management and hazard risk reduction.

According to a George Washington University study conducted some decades ago, Tulsa was the most frequently flooded city in the U.S.  The city was built on the banks of the Arkansas River and flooded every few years in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1984, a major flood killed 14 residents, injured nearly 300, and left thousands of damaged or destroyed buildings. Around that time, the city mayor and activist citizens began a new approach to flood risk reduction. It involves a continuing, voluntary home buyout program; a citywide master drainage plan and a hazard mitigation plan; and integrated planning, higher-standard regulations, and outreach and education. These efforts have helped Tulsa earn the highest rating in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS) – Class 1. Tulsa is one of only two communities in the nation with this status. In addition to highlighting these efforts as best practices for other communities to consider, the FEMA case study presents four key takeaways, one of which involves gaining long-term political support. The case study also includes related documents and links for reference, such as Tula’s 2019 Hazard Mitigation Plan and resources related to the city’s flood control efforts. Access the case study at FEMA.