Flooding is a natural disaster that usually results in extensive damage and expensive repair costs.
The world’s climate is rapidly changing, and unexpected weather disasters are occurring more than expected.
Therefore, it is recommended to have preventative measures put in place, regardless of how high or low the relative risk of flooding is in your area.
Large scale and highly effective flooding mitigation methods are usually carried out by the government or city council.
Some methods, however, can be used by homeowners, business owners and property managers to reduce flood risks.
Flood prevention methods have different levels of effectiveness, cost of production and maintenance, and specific conditions where they work best.
Listed below are seven proactive steps that can significantly reduce the chances of flooding.
Elevating Your Building
The elevation method involves raising the level of your property so that the lowest floor or living space is at the same level or above the average flood level.
It is advisable to consult your community’s flood hazard database to determine the highest level of flood that can occur in your area.
You can then choose an elevation height based on that data or your personal preference. Elevation can be carried out in various ways.
The building can either be separated from its foundation or lifted together with its foundation while a more durable, floodproof foundation is constructed below it.
You can also choose to leave the building as it is but build an addition as an upper storey which will then be used as living space.
Wet Floodproofing
Some portions of your home can be shored up with defences against flooding while a small part, usually the lowest level, is left accessible to flood water.
This practice stabilizes the pressure exerted on the building by the flowing water, thereby causing a reduction in the damaging power of the flood.
All house fixtures, equipment and appliances on the exposed level must be adequately protected, and the walls should be outfitted with materials that will bolster its structural integrity.
Dry Floodproofing
This method involves shoring up the whole building against the effects of flooding. All openings in the house are sealed off, and the walls are reinforced with concrete, steel, or other sturdy materials.
Sealant systems, waterproof membranes, and protective coatings are placed on windows and doors, thereby making the building airtight.
Due to the high hydrostatic pressure that will occur as a result of the flood encountering a barrier, it is essential to use high-grade equipment that can stand against the sheer velocity of the flowing water.
Constructing Barriers
Levees and retaining walls are two types of barriers can be used to mitigate flooding. Levees are made from tightly compacted soil that is packed at an elevation higher than or equal to six feet.
This structure is best used in areas with available land as it must be built to a significant width. While the levee can be constructed in one area, it can also be built around a building so that the whole property is surrounded.
Retaining walls are stronger than levees as they are built with components that provide a high amount of strength and sturdiness.
Retaining walls can be made with shotcrete, a mixture of concrete and rocks that remains strong as time goes on.
The shotcrete can be applied around a frame of steel and covered with a layer of stones. This will increase the strength of the retaining wall.
Demolition and Rebuilding
Buildings that have been affected by flooding or built with components that are highly vulnerable to the effects of flooding can be torn down and rebuilt.
In a situation whereby the structure of a building can’t be strengthened due to the quality of the materials used in its initial construction, the best course of action might be to demolish the property and start again with highly resilient components.
Other flood mitigation methods can be easily added to the building plans to decrease flood risk further.
Relocation
In areas that experience high durations and frequencies of flooding, the most effective method might be moving your house to an area with higher elevation or well outside the highly hazardous areas.
This method involves detaching your home from its foundation and moving it with a vehicle to a new location. The foundation at the old site will then be demolished, and utility lines will be closed off.
Creating Waterways and Flow Paths
Broad, wide, and deep passages can be created to allow water to flow down to a dam or a large water body.
The waterways should be cleared and maintained regularly to reduce blockage and provide an open path for the flood to flow through.
This method diverts the flowing water away from buildings, thereby ensuring that the risk of damage is reduced.
