Over the last two decades, the frequency of intense rainfall events has become increasingly prevalent resulting in coastal and inland flooding. The importance of identifying flood zones on developing properties has become critically evident following the historic January 2023 flooding. Established neighborhoods located 1,000 feet inland from the shoreline, where flooding had not occurred for years, became inundated by back-to-back storms with coastal flooding. In South Kingstown, RI, many residences in Matunuck Beach were affected, resulting in the closure of roadways, which posed a threat to hundreds of other properties.
DiPrete Engineering was hired to perform engineering and permitting for Matunuck Beach Condominiums, a proposed workforce housing development within the Matunuck Beach watershed. As part of engineering the new development, we identified and mapped out the limit of the FEMA flood elevation with the goal of designing home sites that would remain unaffected by flood inundation or accessible during storm events. The storm flooding in January 2023 confirmed that the building sites were safely above the flood area, and access to the sites was maintained. To assess potential flooding threats to real estate, it is advisable to consult a licensed civil engineer and land surveyor. DiPrete Engineering is available to assist in identifying potential flood risks throughout New England.
