The town that flood-proofed itself

Oct 6, 2021

a man stands by the riverbank in Ottawa, Illinois, which has long been prone to flooding

Flooding has long been a part of life in Ottawa, Illinois. Image: Photo © Laura Gersony / Circle of Blue

Laura Gersony

Intern, Circle of Blue

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pictured here is Dean Anderson, who made the difficult decision to sell his home

Dean Anderson remembers selling his home as one of the hardest decision he ever made. Image: Photo © Laura Gersony / Circle of Blue

a map showing how the city of Ottawa bought vulnerable riverside properties as part of the Flats buyout program.

The city bought vulnerable riverside properties as part of the Flats buyout program. Image: Photo courtesy of the City of Ottawa.

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shown here is Mathew Stafford, the city’s floodplain manager, standing in front of a sign displaying the record flood in 2013

Mathew Stafford, the city’s floodplain manager, stands in front of a sign displaying the record flood in 2013. Image: Photo © Laura Gersony / Circle of Blue

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this photo shows the historic flooding that devastated the Flats neighborhood in 1982

Historic flooding that devastated the Flats neighborhood in 1982. Image: Photo courtesy of Dean Anderson.

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