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Baniers-Levees, floodwalls, and berms keep flood waters from reaching . a building. They are useful only in areas subject to shallow flooding. They can surround the entire building, tie into high ground, or be as small as a low floodwall built around an exterior stairwell to a basement. Care must be taken in locating. barriers'. They must be placed 59 as not to create flooding or .dl'llinage problems (In 'lieighboring properties., All barriers must be kept out of regulatory floodways. . . Dry Ooodproormg-A dry floodproofed building is sealed against flood waters. All areas below the flood protection level are made watertight. Walls are coated with waterproofmg compounds or plastic sheeting. Openings like doors, windows, sewer lines, and vents are closed, either permanently, with removable shields, or with sandbags. The flood protection level should be no more than 2 or 3 feet above the top of the foundation because the building's walls and floors cannot withstand the pressure of deeper water. Wet Ooodproofing- This approach is usually a last resort. Flood waters are intentionally allowed into the building to minimize water pressure on the structure. Wet floodproofing can include moving a few valuable items to a higher place or completely rebuilding the floodable area. Wet floodproofing has an advantage over other approaches: no matter how little is done, flood damage will be reduced. Thousands of dollars in damage can be avoided just by moving furniture and appliances out of the flood-prone area. Sewer backup protection-Houses with downspouts, footing drain tile, and/or a sump pump connected to the sanitary sewer service may be inundated when heavy rains overload the system. If the local code allows, these should be disconnected. Rain and groundwater should be directed out onto the ground, away . from the building. Overloaded sewers can be prevented from backing up into a home by using a variety of alterations to plumbing, including a floor drain plug, a floor drain standpipe, an overhead sewer, or a baclrup valve. To Find Out More ~ . The State NFIP Coordinator and the Corps of Engineers have more information on elevation, barriers, and floodproofing. Insurance Insurance has the advantage that, as long as the policy is in force, property losses will be minimized, and no human intervention is needed for it to work. Although most homeowner's insurance policies do not cover flood damage, there are two ways an owner can insure his or her building: through the National Flood Insurance Program or by purchasing basement flooding insurance. National flood insurance-A community must join the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) before its residents can buy flood insurance. Commu- nity participation allows local insurance agents to sell a separate flood insurance policy under rules and rates set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Rates do not change after claims are paid; they are set on a national basis. Basement flooding insurance-Policies under the NFIP can cover seepage and sewer baclrup as long as there is a general condition of flooding in the area that was the proximate cause of the basement's getting wet. Several private insurance companies offer coverage for damage incurred if a sump pump fails or a sewer line backs up. Most of them exclude damage from surface flooding that would be covered by the NFIP. Each company has different amounts of coverage, exclusions, deductibles, and arrangements. . 20