The devastating October 2015 flood caught most of us off guard.

Now Lexington County Land Development Division is prepared for future flooding.

The county has released a report outlining progress made to deal with potential flooding hazards.

The plan includes 22 action items to prepare for and prevent future floods.

County Council Chairman Scott Whetstone said, “We cannot control nature. However, we can do our best to ensure our residents are knowledgeable and prepared for potential flooding hazards.”

The county bought a remote-controlled camera to identify clogged or damaged underground storm water drains and to identify potential neighborhood flood hazards.

Other actions include:

• Inspecting drainage sites before and after heavy rains.

• Restricting development in flood zones and promoting open spaces.

• Improving drainage in the Whitehall and Lloydswood subdivisions and at Rawl’s Creek, 6 Mile Creek and Kinely Creek.

• Encouraging property owners to remove debris on stream banks.

• Working with state officials to improve structurally-deficient bridges.

The county bought 11 of 19 repetitive-loss properties as a National Flood Insurance Program through a federal grant.

“This progress report should show the county’s residents that we are working hard to ensure we do everything we can to avoid the impacts of flooding,” said Whetstone.

The Floodplain Development Requirement identifies areas in Lexington County as special flood hazard zones.

All development in a floodplain requires special permits.

Lexington County residents can find the 2019 Floodplain Management Plan Progress Report and the County’s Floodplain Management Plan on the county’s website at www.lex-co.sc.gov/departments/public-works/floodplain-management .

Floodplain maps are at www.maps.lex-co.com/floodmap .