Laserfiche WebLink
<br />property owners may take to reduce flood damage to buildings and their contents. Floodproofing <br />can benefit the property owner by reducing future flood damages and the inconveniences due to <br />cleanup and repair. Other benefits may include less time off work, improved health and safety, and <br />other intangible benefits. There are three general classifications of floodproofed structures: 1) <br />Permanent floodproofing which does not require human action to initiate, 2) Contingent <br />floodproofing which requires human action at the time of flood waming, and 3) Emergency <br />measures used and initiated at the time of flooding. Some of the most common types of <br />floodproofing practices are described below. <br /> <br />Elevation <br />Elevation involves raising a building in place so that the lowest floor is above the flood level for <br />which protection is being provided. Buildings can be elevated on several different types of <br />foundations including raised foundation walls or an open foundation on piers, posts, or piles. <br />Buildings may also be elevated by filling the property to raise the ground elevation on which the <br />structure sits. <br /> <br />Floodwalls and Levees <br />Floodwalls and levees are free standing structures that prevent floodwaters from encroaching into <br />the protected buildings. They may completely surround the building or protect only the low side of <br />the property. Construction of floodwalls and levees may require local, state, and/or federal permits <br />in order to protect other properties from adverse impacts, to avoid filling in wetlands, and to <br />maintain regulatory floodways. The desired aesthetics of the neighborhood should also be taken <br />into account when considering a floodwall or levee. The most important consideration is that <br />property owners who have constructed a floodwall or levee should not have a false sense of security <br />about their property protection. The protected area should always be evacuated prior to flooding. <br /> <br /> <br />Dry Flood Proofing <br />This technique involves sealing building walls with waterproofing compounds, impermeable <br />sheeting, or other materials and using shields for covering and protecting openings form <br />floodwaters. Dry flood proofing works best on structures where the flood flows are shallow with <br />low velocities. It is not generally recommended for buildings with a basement or a crawl space due <br />to underseepage problems that can occur. Building walls can be protected to a height of about three <br />feet, depending on building construction. <br /> <br />22 <br />