As of 2018, the PHB pilot program,
Johnson Creek Floodplain Home Resiliency
Program has ended.

The information available here is for reference only and may be out of date.

If you have questions about flood insurance,
please follow the links below for more information.

The Johnson Creek Floodplain

Living or working near the Johnson Creek Floodplain can be challenging. Winter rains bring the threat of flooding to the Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods each year, which will likely get worse with climate change. Mandatory flood insurance is expensive and premiums are rising at up to 18% each year, threatening to displace low- and moderate-income homeowners. Additionally, existing homes can be hard to repair, which can lead to decreased property values and disinvestment, making homeowners susceptible to predatory real estate practices. Local and federal rules about development in the floodplain are complicated, which can result in some commercial lands remaining under-developed.

About 700 households in the Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods are currently located in the floodplain, and these residents face real financial and environmental risks.

Is my home in the floodplain?

To determine if a home is located in a floodplain, go to www.portlandmaps.com.

1. In PortlandMaps, type in an address
2. In the property description, scroll down and open the "Public Safety" tab
3. Scroll down to the "Hazard" section to see if a property is in or near a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).

Example from PortlandMaps:

To learn more about flooding in Portland, visit the following links:

• Flooding Information – Bureau of Environmental Services
• Planning for Floods – Bureau of Emergency Management
• Title 24: Building Regulations and Flood Hazard Areas – Bureau of Development Services

Oregon Solutions

In 2016, Oregon Governor Kate Brown designated the “Lents Stabilization and Job Creation Collaborative” as an Oregon Solutions project to protect floodplain homeowners, prevent displacement, promote business growth, and increase local jobs by reducing Johnson Creek flood impacts in the Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods. This two-year project brings together residents, industrial landowners, elected officials, and local, state, and federal agencies in a coordinated effort to:

• Protect floodplain homeowners, reduce flood insurance costs, and prevent displacement;
• Promote business growth and increase local jobs; and,
• Reduce Johnson Creek’s flooding impacts.

To learn more about the Oregon Solutions process, its progress, and the partners involved, click here.

Flood Insurance and Elevation Certificates

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