Two waterways, very different behavior

The South Platte River runs along Englewood's western edge, with industrial land, trails and parks along much of its banks. It is a large river regulated by upstream reservoirs, and it rises most during spring runoff and after long, heavy rain events across the region. Little Dry Creek is a much smaller stream that flows across the city toward the Platte. Much of the year it carries little water, but small urban creeks like it can rise quickly during an intense thunderstorm because so much of the land around them is roofs and pavement.

Englewood and regional agencies have done flood control work along Little Dry Creek over the years, and portions run through channels and culverts. That changes where water goes in a big storm, which is one reason flood maps get revised. A property's mapped status can differ from what neighbors remember from years ago.

Terms you will see on a flood map

FIRM
Flood Insurance Rate Map, the official FEMA map used for flood insurance
Special Flood Hazard Area
Land with an estimated one percent or greater chance of flooding in any year, often called the 100-year floodplain
Zone X (shaded)
Moderate risk, often the area between the 100-year and 500-year floodplains
Zone X (unshaded)
Minimal mapped risk; flooding from local drainage can still happen
Base flood elevation
Estimated water surface height in the mapped flood; compared with the lowest floor of a building

Checking your own property

  1. Look up the FEMA map

    Search the FEMA Flood Map Service Center by address. Note the zone and the map panel date.

  2. Check local floodplain information

    Ask the City of Englewood or the regional flood control district whether newer local studies or pending map changes affect your block.

  3. Find out the lowest floor

    If the house is in or near a mapped floodplain, an elevation certificate shows how the basement floor compares with the base flood elevation. Ask whether one already exists for the house.

  4. Talk to an insurance agent

    Ask what a flood policy would and would not cover in your basement, and about the waiting period before a new policy takes effect.

  5. Plan for local drainage regardless

    Even outside mapped zones, intense storms overwhelm gutters, inlets and window wells. Keep the basement drainage basics in good shape.

General information for Englewood, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.