ASU Expert Praises Valley's Flood Control System

By Steve Shadley
Published: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 - 5:26pm
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(Photo by Stina Sieg - KJZZ)
Flood waters near 35th Avenue and Skunk Creek.

A local civil engineering expert said the Valley’s flood control system performed well during Tuesday’s severe rain storm. The Arizona State University professor said Arizona has some of the most modern flood control equipment in the country.

Benjamin Ruddell said the Flood Control District of Maricopa County did an excellent job handling the deluge of rain runoff that hit parts of the north Valley. He said it’s a world-class system that’s designed to limit flooding to less than 1 percent of the homes in the Phoenix area.

Ruddell said although some homes and businesses were damaged, that’s to be expected during a very intense storm like the one that hit this week.

"It’s easier to design a system that will prevent loss of life and where you go back and repair damage afterward than it is to design a system that can stand up to any type of flood damage," Ruddell said.

There are big concerns about the safety of the nation’s aging network of bridges, roads and dams.  But, Ruddell said Arizona has some of the most modern infrastructure in the country.