Selinsgrove Borough Flood Resiliency Study
Selinsgrove Borough Council adopted its Flood Resiliency Study in September 2025.
AKRF and its consultant team worked closely with Borough staff, emergency responders, and community members to develop a plan that strengthens local flood preparedness, response, and recovery while honoring Selinsgrove’s distinctive riverfront identity.
Our work included a comprehensive Flood Response Operations Plan to guide coordinated action during flood events, and preparedness and communication tools for residents and businesses.
We also identified immediate and long-term action items for the Borough and community to strengthen their preparedness, signage, and messaging strategies to integrate resiliency and preparedness into the fabric of everyday life in Selinsgrove.
Newsworthy
Addressing Riverfront Flooding
Located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River Valley, much of Selinsgrove Borough has experienced riverine and flash flooding and integrated combinations of both from the Susquehanna River, Penns Creek, and their local tributaries.
Robust Stakeholder Engagement
We listened to the deep institutional knowledge of Borough stakeholders and worked with the community to memorialize and refine procedures and recommendations for flood preparedness.
These strategies were crafted to be both practical and actionable for a small municipality with dedicated but limited staff resources.
The resulting plan reflects the community’s firsthand experience with flooding and its shared commitment to protecting both residents and Selinsgrove’s historic character.
“Selinsgrove has a long history of resilience in the face of flooding. By adopting this plan, we are taking proactive steps to safeguard our residents, businesses, and historic community assets.”
Selinsgrove Borough Manager
Historic Resources Consulting
AKRF worked with Borough staff, property owners, and preservation stakeholders to evaluate a range of strategies—including zoning overlays, historic registries, and adaptive design approaches—to strengthen flood resilience while preserving Selinsgrove’s architectural and community character.
The resulting Historic Preservation Toolkit outlines methods for aligning preservation goals with floodplain regulations; clarifies available exemptions, funding, and tax incentives; and provides practical guidance for implementation.
Developed through a collaborative, capacity-based approach, the toolkit equips Selinsgrove to protect both its historic identity and its long-term resilience.
We also developed educational materials for the community that go above and beyond the National Flood Insurance Program’s requirements and will build upon the Borough’s flood insurance premium discounts through FEMA’s Community Rating System.
The plan was funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Flood Mitigation Assistance Program and administered by the SEDA-Council of Governments.
Megan Schmidt of AKRF and Betsy Kramer of SEDA-COG presented “Resilient by the River: Strengthening Flood Preparedness and Preservation in Selinsgrove Borough” on November 8, 2025, at the River Symposium.
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