A house located within the floodplain in Plymouth Township is slated for demolition. The house is located at 5750 State Route 61 North, just north of the Shelby incorporation line.
Steve Risser, floodplain administrator for Richland County, said that the house was built in the 1960s, which was before the county flood maps were constructed and before flood studies were conducted. Thus, the house had experienced several flood events, causing damage to the structure. Instead of constantly tending to those problems, the county commissioners worked to obtain the property and demolish it with the consent of the homeowners.
Risser emphasized, “This is volunteer participation by the owners and wasn’t forced upon them.”
The homeowners have relocated to a residence that is outside of the floodplain, Risser said.
County commissioners purchased the house for $119,714.57 in December using the 2012 Floodplain Hazard Mitigation Grant.
Thursday, the commissioners convened to open bids for the demolition, ultimately awarding Page Excavating Inc. of Lucas the contract for the demolition project. Page Excavating Inc.’s bid of $5,700 was the lowest one received of three bids.
Habitat for Humanity is salvaging any useful items from the house before the demolition commences, Risser said.
Risser noted that from his personal standpoint, nine times out of ten it is more cost-effective for a homeowner of a residence within the floodplain who has experienced flood damage in the past to relocate to another property.
He described different types of flooding, noting that a house that is at risk of a “100-year flood” does not simply mean that the chance of a flood occurring is one every 100 years; rather, it means that the residence is under a one percent chance every year of experiencing a flood event. In certain areas, a “100-year flood” translates to three-and-one-half inches of rain per hour.
Risser said that within the last seven years, Richland County has seen two 100-year floods and rainfall that was in excess of a 500-year flood in 2007.
The property will be reverted back to its natural state after the demolition, Risser said. The residence is situated on about five acres of land, four acres of which are wooded areas. Thus, where the house stands now, trees will be planted.
A house that is at risk of a “100-year flood” does not simply mean that the chance of a flood occurring is one every 100 years; rather, it means that the residence is under a one percent chance every year of experiencing a flood event. In certain areas, a “100-year flood” translates to three-and-one-half inches of rain per hour.
