FLOOD04455

• County: Statewide
• Community: State of Minnesota
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Flood-Proofing Administrative Manual for Minnesota
• Date: 1/1/1997
• Prepared By: US Army Corps of Engineers
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

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The flood-proofing of existing industrial structures may be feasible. Often
these structures are of heavy masonry or concrete construction. Openings can
either be sealed permanently or temporary closures can be used. Utilities
may be relocated with relative ease. Caution must be employed, however, to
ensure that the building is structurally sound before flood-proofing measures
are instituted.

The flood-proofing of existing facilities such as power plants, communication
centers, pumping stations, sewage treatment plants, etc., should be encouraged
if the costs of flood-proofing are not prohibitive. The interruption of these
services may disrupt the economy of the entire region.

Internal remodeling of existing structures is subject to the provisions of the
State .Building Code and to the Flood-Proofing Regulations for those spaces
located below the RFD. As appropriate, the local building official may specify
that types of materials to be used for floors, walls, ceilings, and electrical
and mechanical systems shall be consistent with the flood-proofing classification
of the space. Consultation with the building official prior to preparation of
plans and specifications is recommended.

Additions to existing structures shall be only as permitted by the local zoning
ordinance. Residential and commercial structures must meet the FP-l classi-
fication of the Flood-Proofing Regulations. For other structures, the degree
of flood-proofing is determined by the degree of flood protection required to
permit its intended use. (See Section 400 of Flood-Proofing Regulations).

While generally encouraged under Federal Insurance Administration policies, the
cost of flood-proofing of existing structures may exceed the reduction in flood
insurance rates that may be effected, and thus may not be a practical flood-proof-
ing application. .

LEVEES AND FLOODWALLS

Levees and floodwalls are alternative methods of protecting buildings, structures,
and other development where evacuation of the flood plain, flood-proofing or other
damage reduction measures are impractical. The type of barrier selected will
depend largely on the proximity of structures to the watercourse, and to soil con-
ditions. Minimum design flood protection elevations for urban and non-urban areas
and permissible increases in flood stages due to any such works are discussed in
NR 89(e) and NR 87(d)(1), respectively. Flood barriers are rarely economical or
practical for individual or small groupings of residential and commercial struc-
tures due to the high costs of the barriers themselves and the interior drainage
facilities that would be required. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
requires that all local flood protection systems be designed and constructed in
accordance with current engineering standards and experience.

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