Flood Information

If you have any questions about the below information or other flood-related questions, please contact Ken Roberts, Code Administrator by phone at (570) 275-3091, ext 1 or email kroberts@danvilleboro.org.

As part of our effort to save you money from flood damage and reduce your flood insurance premiums, the Borough of Danville continues implementing a variety of flood protection activities including upgrades to the levee protection system, cleaning of storm water ditches and channels, regulating new construction in the floodplain, preserving flood-prone areas as open space, and making flood protection information freely available to our residents and business owners.

Elevation Certificates

Why Do You Need an Elevation Certificate?

Flood insurance rates are increasing exponentially. An elevation certificate could reduce your flood insurance costs.

Flood Insurance rates are increasing by 15% or more every year but most residents do not know why!

The Borough is taking several steps to reduce flood insurance costs. We participate in the Community Rating System, a program that gives borough residents a discount on premiums based on the Borough’s flood awareness and mitigation activities. We are also working towards levee accreditation from FEMA. Portions of the Hospital Run and Upper Susquehanna levees will be raised to meet the FEMA criteria. When that is complete we will be ready for FEMA review andapproval. After FEMA accreditation, the flood protection system will be shown on the FIRM, significantly reducing the cost of flood insurance.

Who Needs an Elevation Certificate?

Properties located in A zones on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) are in designated flood zones, or Special Hazard Flood Zone. A Zones are areas near lakes, rivers, streams, or other bodies of water that are subject to inundation by the annual­ chance flood event. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements and floodplain management standards apply to these properties.

An EC is necessary if you build an addition to your home or convert a garage to living space. When buying or selling a home, the Lender will require the Buyer to have flood insurance and an EC may be required to determine the cost of flood insurance.

Any improvement to a structure in an A Zone valued at 50% or more of the fair market value will require the structure to meet the criteria of the Borough Floodplain Ordinance. This is not exempt under the Uniform Construction Code. All work in the floodplain requires a permit.

Keep in mind, anywhere can flood! We are surrounded by water; the river, Mahoning Creek, Sechler Run, Hospital Run, and Blizzard Run. Even if you are not mapped in an A zone on the FIRM, you should consider flood insurance. Homeowners Insurance will not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is inexpensive for homes outside of the Special Flood Hazard Area.

Why is Having an Elevation Certificate Important?

• Determines flood risk – knowing where exactly your property is in relation to the base flood elevation will allow you to complete the most appropriate mitigation steps to avoid flood damage in the future.
• Regulates a risk based premium rate for flood insurance policy – the EC will be used by your insurance agent to calculate your premium.
• Can change flood zone designation – the EC can be used to determine the actual location of your property in relation to the flood zone, which could significantly lower your premium.

How to Obtain an Elevation Certificate

The Borough of Danville and SEDA- Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) are working together to provide FEMA elevation Certificates. SEDA-COG has negotiated a group price for engineering/survey services to complete and issue FEMA elevation Certificates for interested homeowners in the Borough of Danville who reside within the 100-year floodplain (Zone AE). The cost is $600.00, prepaid to SEDA-COG. There are no income restrictions applied to this program. Applications for Elevation Certificates are available for pick-up at the Borough office.

Borough Elevation Certificates on Record

The Borough maintains FEMA elevation certificates on all new buildings and substantial improvements in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as well as any elevation certificates that are provided to us. These can be found and viewed by clicking on the address of interest in the list below:

• 109 and 111 Water Street Elevation Certificates
• 122 Lower Mulberry Street Elevation Certificate
• 341 Church Street – NFIP FEMA Determination
• 237 Rooney Avenue
• 268 Mill Street
• 285 Mill Street
• 126 Jacobs Landing Way
• 130 Jacobs Landing Way
• 136 Jacobs Landing Way
• 137 Jacobs Landing Way
• 141 Jacobs Landing Way
• 142 Jacobs Landing Way
• 148 Jacobs Landing Way
• 149 Jacobs Landing Way
• 152 Jacobs Landing Way
• 153 Jacobs Landing Way
• 155 Jacobs Landing Way
• 156 Jacobs Landing Way
• 157 Jacobs Landing Way
• 160 Jacobs Landing Way
• 161 Jacobs Landing Way
• 200 Northumberland Street 1
• 200 Northumberland Street 2
• 287 Northumberland Street
• 450 Mill Street (234 retired)
• 463 Mill Street (239 retired)
• 494 Mill Street (268 retired)
• 459 Rooney Street (237 retired)

If you are in need of an elevation certificate, the Borough is working the SEDA-Council of Governments to provide these at a low cost!  Click here to be redirected to the website for this program.

Flood Awareness Newsletter

The Borough annually publishes a Flood Awareness Newsletter, providing valuable information on the flood hazard in Danville, insuring your property for the flood hazard, protecting yourself and your family, protecting your property, responsible development, floodplain protection, and the Borough’s flood warning system. The 2021 issue can be read or download by clicking on the link below.

2022 Flood Awareness Newsletter

Disaster Preparedness

Flood Readiness Brochure

Protect Yourself, Your Family, and Your Property

Designate a place where your family can rendezvous after an evacuation order has been issued.

Do not walk through flowing water.  Drowning is the number one cause of flood-related deaths.  Currents can be deceptive; only six inches of moving water can knock a person off their feet.

Do not drive through a flooded area or around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed out.

Stay away from power lines and electrical wires.  The number two cause of flood-related deaths after drowning is electrocution.  Always report downed power lines to the Police Department by calling 911.

Look before you step.  After a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris including broken bottles and nails.  Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be slippery and dangerous.

Look out for animals that have been flooded out of their homes and may try to seek shelter in yours.

Be alert for gas leaks.  Use a flashlight to inspect for damage.  Don’t smoke or use candles, lanterns, or open flames unless you are 100% sure that the gas has been turned off and the area has been ventilated.

Carbon monoxide exhaust kills.  Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machine outdoors.  The same goes for camping stoves.

Charcoal fumes are especially deadly, so only use charcoal outdoors.

Clean everything that got wet.  Flood waters have residual sewage and chemicals in them from roads, farms, factories, and storage buildings.  Spoiled food, flooded cosmetics, and medicine can be health hazards and should be discarded.  When in doubt, throw it out.

Take good care of yourself.  Recovering from a flood is a big job.  The effects of a disaster on both the body and the spirit are difficult.  Be aware for signs of anxiety, stress, and fatigue in you or your family.

Flood proofing a house means altering it so that floodwaters will not cause damage.  Different flood proofing techniques and methods are appropriate for different type of buildings.  Use the following as a guideline:  If you have a basement, split level, or other floor below ground level, there are lots of ways to protect your basement or lower floor from seepage and sewer backup.  A backup valve is one way to prevent sewer backup.  If your house is on a slab foundation, investigate a low floodwall, berm or “dry flood proofing” method. If your house in on a crawlspace, a low floodwall, berm or “wet flood proofing” may be a good option.  “Wet flood proofing” means moving all items subject to damage out of harm’s way so water can flow into the crawlspace and not cause any problems or damage to contents.  If floodwaters go over the first floor, explore the possibility of elevating the building in order to get the ground floor above the expected flood level.

Emergency measures:  No matter what kind of  building you have, some last minute emergency measures can always help.  For example, you could move valuable items (photos, antiques, and other important possessions) or items that are most damaged by floodwaters (upholstered furniture, stuffed toys, mattresses, etc.) up to a higher floor.  You can also place sandbags or plastic sheeting in front of doorways and other low, ground-floor entry points.

Whatever emergency protection measures you use, it is always best to have a plan written in advance to make sure you don’t forget anything after you hear the flood warning.

Danville is provided with 24-hour flood warning service from the Montour County Emergency Management/911 Center.  The Center is connected to the National Weather Service River Forecast Center in State College, PA and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency in Harrisburg, PA.  The borough’s Emergency Operations Center is located at the Municipal Building.  If a flood warning is received, the Borough will notify the public using its emergency sirens that are strategically located in various places around Danville.

Map Information Services

As a public service, the Borough of Danville will be happy to assist you by providing the following map information free-of-charge upon request:

• Basic information as found on the Borough of Danville’s Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) that is needed to write a flood insurance policy.
• Additional information available on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) such as the location of floodways within the Borough of Danville.
• Information regarding any known flood problems within the Borough of Danville other than those shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).
• Information regarding flood depths in the Borough of Danville.
• Information about any special flood-related hazards in the Borough of Danville.
• Historical information relating to past flooding events at or near the site in question.
• Information about areas within the Borough of Danville that should be protected and preserved because of their natural floodplain qualities.
• Copies of FEMA Elevation Certificates for properties within the Borough of Danville.

The Municipal Building is located at 463 Mill Street and is open from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. Mondays through Thursdays and from 8 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. on Fridays. You can also reach Ken Roberts, Code Administrator by phone at 570-275-3091, ext. 1 or via email at kroberts@danvilleboro.org.