FLOOD07643

• County: Statewide
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Physical and Economic Feasibility of Nonstructural Flood Plain Management Measures
• Date: 3/1/1978
• Prepared For: US
• Prepared By: US Army Corps of Engineers
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

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CHAPTER 7

REMOVAL OF EXISTING STRUCTURES AND/OR CONTENTS
FROM A FLOOD HAZARD AREA

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Description
Chapter 6 discussed relocating and protecting damageable property within an existing
structure. This Chapter discusses two options for removing property to a location outside the
flood hazard area. One option is to remove both structure and contents to a flood free site. This
involves:

. Locating and purchasing land at a new site.

. Preparing the new site; services, driveway, sidewalk, new foundation.

. Raising structure off its existing foundation, transporting it to the new site and placing it
on the new foundation.

. Moving contents from existing to new location.

. Removing, disposing, and backfilling the foundation at the existing site.

. Providing temporary lodging during relocation.

A second option is to remove only the contents to a structure located at a flood-free site and
demolish or reuse the structure at the existing site. If the structure is reused it should be for a
use which has contents which are not readily damageable. Preserving a structure for historic
purposes is an example. I n both cases - demolition or reuse - the measure includes,

. Locating an existing structure, or building a new structure, at a flood-free site.

. Moving contents from an existing to a new location.

. Either demolishing, and where possible salvaging, the existing structure, or reusing it for a
less damage susceptible use.

Figure 7-1 illustrates some of these options graphically. There are also other possibilities such
as removing part of the contents, or relocating one of a group of structures, or modifying an
existing structure to accommodate a new use. In each case the purpose is to remove
damageable property from the hazard area, yet take advantage of opportunities for using the
existing property in ways which are compatible with the hazard. Reference 1 describes an
application of these measures.

Physical Feasibility
While the experience and equipment exists for moving mar:lY different types of structures,
either as a whole or in segments, there is a practical limit on the size and type structure which it
is economically feasible to move to reduce flood losses. Even the most readily relocatable
structures are costly to remove. For this reason the discussion in this Chapter will center on
identifying the most favorable removal situations.

One or two story residential and light commercial structures of wood frame on raised
foundations or basements are usually easy to move because of the structure weight and access
to the first floor joists. Structures of brick, concrete or masonry can also be moved, however,
additional precautions must be taken to prevent excessive cracking. Structures with slab-on-

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