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<br />SYSTEMS AND MATERIALS TO PREVENT FLOODWATERS FROM <br />ENTERING BUILDINGS <br /> <br />PART I: INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />1. Despite the construction of flood-control projects and the develop- <br /> <br /> <br />ment of public programs to reduce flood losses, flood damage to homes and <br /> <br /> <br />other buildings in the United States has increased dramatically. The growing <br /> <br /> <br />exposure of structures to flooding is largely due to rising land costs and a <br /> <br /> <br />reduction in the quantity of available land for building, producing an en- <br /> <br />croachment of building on floodplains. <br /> <br /> <br />2. Flooding is not only expensive to the homeowner and the taxpayer, <br /> <br /> <br />but also causes its victims despair and worry. To reduce the costs and hard- <br /> <br /> <br />ships associated with flood damage to buildings, the Government should <br /> <br /> <br />move rapidly to: <br /> <br /> <br />a. Develop the expertise to advise homeowners and other property <br /> <br />owners about flood-protection systems. <br /> <br /> <br />b. Transfer technology for making homes and buildings resistant to <br /> <br />floodwaters. <br /> <br /> <br />3. Many US Army Engineer District offices are responsible for answering <br /> <br /> <br />inquiries about flood protection and in many cases have responsibilities for <br /> <br /> <br />protecting homes and buildings in areas subject to flooding. In correspon- <br /> <br /> <br />dence with District offices, and others, the author has found widespread <br /> <br /> <br />interest in, and a need for, materials and methods to protect homes and build- <br /> <br /> <br />ings from penetration by rain and floodwaters. Reduction of flood damage to <br /> <br /> <br />homes and other buildings is desirable and should be part of a comprehensive <br /> <br /> <br />flood-control plan. <br /> <br /> <br />4. Because homeowners and the public have not had ready access to <br /> <br /> <br />expert guidance for protecting their homes from floods, many individual and <br /> <br /> <br />contractor attempts at flood protection have been inadequate. Contractors are <br /> <br /> <br />now installing systems on homes to prevent damage due to floodwaters. This is <br /> <br /> <br />a positive and very helpful service, but the Government needs to make faster <br /> <br /> <br />advancements in flood-protection technology where private companies do not <br /> <br />have the expertise or test facilities. This technology should then be <br /> <br />5 <br />