The Mississippi River in our area has reached its third-highest level ever, cresting at 23.01 feet (17 feet is at flood level). The less-populated Eastern/Illinois side of the river has spilled over its banks and submerged businesses, roads, and homes, but the Westside and Dubuque, Iowa have remained dry – thanks to a flood-control system built over 50 years ago.
After a massive flood in 1965, government entities worked together to build a floodwall that has protected Dubuque and allowed for substantial growth and development along the riverbank. Since the wall was erected, all the floodgates have only been closed three times, including last weekend, so it’s not that floods were an annual event or that in 1965 the flood-mitigation system was absolutely essential. Instead, community leaders chose to invest in an insurance plan to protect the city in the future. Residents are benefitting from their foresight today.
Proactive infrastructure projects are often seen as cost-prohibitive in the short term and fail to take into account the long-term benefits they may provide. While the floodwall cost $11 million in 1965 ($95 million today), it has undoubtedly generated far more than that in economic development and saved damage claims exceeding its cost.
When you evaluate a proposal, you may be under pressure to show quick results, but the long-term benefits may be what make it truly valuable. Prevent a flood of regrets by investing in the distance instead of the short-term.
