Flood Hazard Areas

Flash flooding is the most common problem along Mud, Sand, and Slate creeks and the smaller tributaries that drain into the creeks. Local flooding can also happen when storm drain inlets and culverts are clogged with leaves, grass, and branches. The Harvey County Historical Museum has newspaper articles describing flooding on Sand Creek throughout the 1900s. The Ash Street bridge was rebuilt after floods destroyed the bridge in 1954 and again in 1965.

To find out if your property is in the 100-year floodplain you can:

• Call the City at 316-284-6020.
• Go to FEMA Flood Map Service Center | Search By Address
• Use the City of Newton Public Map to search your address. Open the Flood Plain Boundaries layer found under the Layer List at the top right corner of the webpage.

Flood Insurance

If you do not have flood insurance, talk to your insurance agent. Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. Flood insurance is only available to those participating communities in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The City is part of the NFIP, making federal flood insurance available to property owners and renters. Additionally, because the City participates in FEMA’s Community Rating System program, flood insurance premiums are discounted.

There is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance coverage becomes effective. Plan ahead; do not wait until a flood is predicted before purchasing flood insurance.

If you own a building inside the regulatory floodplain, the purchase of flood insurance is mandatory if using a federally regulated insured bank for a loan. For more information on the National Flood Insurance Program, go to https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program 

While the risk is greater if you own a building in the mapped floodplain, flooding can happen anywhere. Go to FloodSmart.gov to find out more or go to the Quote Tool to get a quote. Or call the NFIP Help Center at 1-800-427-4661. Local insurance agents include:

• American Family Insurance Ken Hall Agency, 316-284-0884
• Charlsen Insurance Agency, 316-804-4945
• Conrade Insurance Group, 316-283-0096
• Farm Bureau Financial Services - Gavin Thunberg, 316-283-2090
• Farm Bureau Financial Services - Kari Nattier, 316-283-4408
• Farm Bureau Financial Services - Matt Steventon, 316-283-4400
• Fuqua Insurance Group, 316-283-0800
• Krueger Insurance, 316-283-9100
• Miller Insurance Agency, 316-283-7281
• Sage Point Financial, 316-283-1800
• Shelter Insurance - Bradley Cook, 316-283-4241
• Todd Barnes, State Farm Insurance Agent, 316-283-6726

The following common sense guidelines can help protect you from the dangers of flooding:

• Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in cars than anywhere else. Do not drive around barriers. 2 feet of water can float a vehicle. Simply TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN!! 
• Do not walk through flowing water. Six inches of water can knock you off your feet. Keep children away from flood waters, ditches, culverts and storm drains as small people can easily be sucked into culverts. Individuals can also be injured by debris or contaminants that have been picked up by the flood waters.
• Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. If you know you are going to be flooded, shut the power off at the service box. Electrical current can travel through water. Electrocution is the 2nd leading cause of death during floods.
• Be alert to gas leaks. Turn off the gas to your house before it floods. If you smell gas, report it to your gas company. Do not use candles, lanterns or open flames if you smell gas or are unsure if your gas has been shut off.
• Do not use gas engines, such as generators, or charcoal fires indoors during power outages. Carbon monoxide exhaust can pose serious health hazards.
• Clean everything that has been wet!! Due to contamination in floodwaters with sewage and other chemicals that pose a health threat, everything that has come in contact with floodwaters must be cleaned.

Visit Floods | Ready.gov  and Flood Safety Guide for more information.

If your property is susceptible to flooding, there are many flood damage reduction measures you can employ.

• Watertight seals can be applied to brick and block walls. This is to protect your home from low-level flooding.
• Utilities such as heating and air conditioning systems, water heaters and other major appliances can be elevated to higher floors in the structure or on raised platforms.
• Temporary measures such as moving furniture and other valuables to higher floors and sand bagging exterior openings will also help.
• Elevating or relocating the entire structure may also be a feasible option.

For additional retrofitting techniques, clink the link to FEMA’s Six Ways to Protect Your Home: Retrofitting

Because street flooding can be caused by clogged storm drain inlets, it's important to stop illegal dumping and excessive debris from accumulating in the drainage system. To report dumping or clogging, use our Stormwater Hotline at 316-284-6100 or online reporting form.

For Flood Protection Information or additional Information, please contact our Planning and Zoning Office at 316-284-6020.

All development within the 100-year floodplain (not just construction of buildings, filling, excavation, fences, etc.) is required to obtain a Floodplain Development Permit and possibly a Building Permit. Applications must be made prior to any of the above listed work. To obtain information, permits or report illegal development activities, please contact the City of Newton Building, Planning and Zoning Office at 316-284-6020. 

The city’s floodplain regulations can be found in our Zoning Regulations (adopted August 2022) in Chapter 15. Permit applications can be found on our Construction Permit Applications page.

Floodplains play a valuable role in providing natural and beneficial functions. Floodplains that are maintained as open space provide a wide range of benefits to both human and natural systems. Open floodplains provide habitat for wildlife, storage of floodwater and areas for stormwater infiltration into the ground.

The new Rhoades Wetland Park is located within the floodplain and demonstrates all these benefits. The development of the park was coordinated by Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams, a nonprofit organization founded in 1996 whose mission is to “Connect the Waters, Lands, and People of Kansas.” The park provides an excellent spot for birding and a chance for Newtonians to enjoy nature within the city limits.