This project addresses Cecil County’s limited data on nuisance flooding—including where flooding occurs, how long it lasts, and how it affects residents, businesses, roads, and critical facilities. While the County has updated its Nuisance Flood Plan (2025) and has documented areas of concern using roadway and ditch overflow observations, dock flooding, and emergency services reports, County staff recognize that the most detailed and timely information often comes from the people experiencing flooding firsthand. Many property owners, however, are not aware of how important their reports are, how to report flooding effectively, or what steps they can take to reduce impacts.
This project will improve the quantity and quality of nuisance flooding documentation through an education and outreach campaign that increases property owners’ understanding of nuisance flooding and expands reporting through the MyCoast app. The work will also identify the most effective ways to reach property owners with both general education and time-sensitive flood alerts, and will support the County’s longer-term goal of developing a Program for Public Information (PPI) for potential credit under the Community Rating System (CRS).
Because drainage and stormwater conveyance maintenance is critical to minimizing nuisance flooding—and County resources are limited—the project will also promote simple, practical actions property owners can take to help keep local systems functioning (e.g., keeping leaves, grass clippings, and debris out of drainage structures).
Key deliverables will include: research on barriers to MyCoast use; community engagement to better understand concerns and communication preferences; a County Education and Outreach Plan; ready-to-use outreach materials (fact sheets, newsletter content, social media posts, and enhanced map-based information); compiled inputs to support future PPI development (including public information needs and potential committee members); and recommended next steps and potential funding sources to sustain the campaign.
Partners: Cecil County, MD
Sponsor:
Team Members: