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<br /> <br />City of Colorado Springs Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan <br /> <br />and other building openings. However"the <br />first step with the use of closures placed di. <br />rectly on buildings is to be certain that both <br />the closure and ~e wall systems are strong <br />enough and sufficiently watertight to with- <br />stand flood pressures. The use of closures <br /> <br /> <br />Prairie Hil'" Elementary School <br /> <br />directly on a structure is considered to be part <br />of the sealing process. <br /> <br />Closures can be considered as an option only <br />if a flooding situation provides sufficient time <br />to install the closures. The need for both warn- <br />ing time and "human intervention" is critical, <br />since all closure system require personnel to <br />install them and make certain they are prop- <br />erly sealed. <br /> <br />Closures that are stored between floods must <br />be readily accessible. The effectiveness of an <br />entire closure system will be compromised if <br />the closures are stored such that flooding ren- <br />ders them inaccessible, or if even one closure <br />is improperly installed. <br /> <br />For most flooding situations, a homeowner <br />should consult with a professional engineer to <br />be certain that the closure system being <br />planned can withstand the hydrostatic and <br />hydrodynamic pressures that will be involved. <br /> <br />Low Profile Permanent Closures <br /> <br />For cases involving flood levels of up to two <br />feet, a type of "mini-flood wall can be used to <br />permanently protect various types of open- <br />ings. Possible materials for this use include <br />brick, concrete block and poured concrete. Fig- <br />ure 16 shows a wall around a window well. For <br />flooding around a basement door, a low wall <br />around the entrance may be the solution, as <br />shown in figure 16. Though the "mini"-walls <br />may not require the degree of reinforcing of <br />larger flood walls, they should be supported <br />by and securely tied onto a footing so that they <br />will not be undercut by scouring. <br /> <br />Sandbagging <br /> <br />As a last resort or during emergencies, sand- <br />bags can keep water away from vulnerable <br />property. However, flood proofing measures <br /> <br /> <br />Sandbagged HoUtJe on CUtJter Avenue <br /> <br />and moving contents out of the way are much <br />more secure methods to accomplish the same <br />thing. Additionally, sandbagging can be very <br />expensive. <br /> <br />A community plan for sandbagging requires <br />buying sandbags before a flood. Get burlap or <br />plastic sandbags. Other kinds of bags simply <br />won't hold up. Burlap or plastic bags cost 25 <br /> <br />16 <br />