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<br />transferred to other Government agencies and to the private sector. The Corps <br /> <br /> <br />of Engineers needs to have expert advice for the homeowner because they are <br /> <br /> <br />usually exasperated (especially after experiencing repeated flood losses) and <br /> <br /> <br />are willing to attempt almost anything to protect their homes. They need an <br /> <br /> <br />independent and nonpartial source of information to help them become knowl- <br /> <br />edgeable about flood-protection systems. <br /> <br /> <br />5. Materials and methods for preventing the flow of water into homes <br /> <br /> <br />should not be selected only on the basis of being logical systems which per- <br /> <br /> <br />form satisfactorily, but should be tested and used only after proven perfor- <br /> <br />mance. A well-coordinated effort between the Districts, Divisions, and the <br /> <br /> <br />research laboratory should be obtained through planning and technology <br /> <br /> <br />transfer. Independent and piecemeal solutions are too expensive and <br /> <br /> <br />time-consuming. <br /> <br /> <br />6. The tests and results described in this report are an effort to <br /> <br /> <br />learn about materials and systems to protect houses from floods so the home- <br /> <br />owner can benefit from the conclusions of the studies and better help himself <br /> <br /> <br />prevent flood damages. <br /> <br />Purpose and Scope <br /> <br />7. This report presents the results of studies of methods and materials <br /> <br />to protect homes and other buildings from flood damage. Studies are described <br /> <br /> <br />that were conducted to (a) determine block-wall integrity, (b) test various <br /> <br /> <br />sealing materials, (c) test protective systems installed on prototype dwell- <br /> <br /> <br />ings, and (d) evaluate various systems currently being using to prevent flood <br /> <br /> <br />damage to homes and buildings. <br /> <br /> <br />8. This study does not attempt to develop detailed solutions to the <br /> <br /> <br />total problem of protecting homes from flooding. The author presents <br /> <br /> <br />pertinent findings obtained during laboratory and prototype tests that should <br /> <br /> <br />be useful to homeowners and contractors attempting to make buildings resistant <br /> <br /> <br />to floodwaters. <br /> <br />6 <br />