Floodplain regulations halt tornado rebuild for Elkhorn business
An Elkhorn landscaping company is back in business after taking a direct hit in the April 26 tornado outbreak, but the owner says recovery has taken a blow out of the blue. Elkhorn landscaping company, Rocky's Stone and Design, has been hit hard by the April 26 tornado outbreak and has been unable to rebuild after the tornado destroyed a large building and offices. The business had to relocate from the large building to an 8x40-foot shipping container due to flooding from a nearby creek. The owner, Jacob Michalski, received a notice of violation from the Omaha Planning Department, stating that he was given more hoops to navigate than initially thought. The City of Omaha's flood plain manager, Robert Laroco, said location affects the rules and that a permanent building can be built on the property but requires building and floodplain development permits. Officials have stated that a city-wide 50 percent break on FEMA flood insurance is at risk to maintain this discount.
Published : one year ago by Mike McKnight in Weather
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - An Elkhorn landscaping company is back in business after taking a direct hit in the April 26 tornado outbreak, but the owner says recovery has taken a blow out of the blue.
Rocky’s Stone and Design had a big building for equipment and offices until the tornado changed the landscape.
“We went from that to an 8x40-foot shipping container,” said Jacob Michalski with Rocky’s. “This is my office now.”
A shipping container that contains a computer, cabinets, and invoices that four employees need to run the business.
It only took minutes for the tornado to rip through, but Mother Nature ahs continued to torment the business in the weeks since, with flooding from a nearby creek. That raised unexpected issues with the rebuilding process.
Jacob received a notice of violation from the Omaha Planning Department. He says he tried to sort it out at city hall.
‘We were given more hoops to go through,” Jacob said. “We have to get a flood plain permit and elevation certificate, then my building permit, but they want me to raise my temporary structure.”
Robert Laroco, the City of Omaha’s flood plain manager, says location affects the rules.
“I can understand and respect that frustration,” Laroco said. “He would be required to get a building permit for the temporary office structure and then as a result, get a flood plain development permit as well. That would require he elevate that structure to one foot above the base flood elevation.”
Jacob and his office manager now worry about the rising costs, because the insurance coverage will only stretch so far.
“If we don’t have to rebuild up that ground, I don’t understand why we can’t be grandfathered in for the easement that’s already here,” said Rocky’s office Manage, Michelle Desoe.
Employees didn’t expect the tornado to leave more than debris.
“I didn’t know it blew in so much red tape as far as moving our stuff, and now we have to get a permit for the office we have temporarily,” said Zach Kuhl, a Rocky’s Stone employee.
But officials say a city-wide 50 percent break on FEMA flood insurance is at stake.
“In order to maintain that discount for all the residents of Omaha, we need to ensure every person is following those floodplain regulations,” Laroco said.
“I didn’t ask for a tornado to come through and take everything out,” Jacob said. I was trying to make ends meet by getting my business running. But throwing more hoops at us in the process is just crazy to me.”
City officials told 6 News that a permanent building can be constructed on the property, but that also would require building and floodplain development permits. The planning department will help in the process.
After buying he landscape supply company two years ago, Jacob says he plans to rebuild and grow the business on that same location.
Topics: Tornadoes