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<br />your house. Relocation and ele- <br />vation are the only reasonable <br />choices for protecting a house <br />that is subject to deep flooding <br />(flooding more than 6 feet <br />deep) or to coastal flooding. <br /> <br />3. Floodwalls <br />Floodwalls, berms, and levees all <br />work to keep floodwaters from <br />reaching your house. They are <br />built to at least the height of the <br />flood protection level in your <br />area. Floodwalls are usually <br />made of concrete. Berms are <br />simply small levees, usually built <br />from fill dirt. <br />Floodwalls, berms, and levees <br />can either surround the building <br />(ring levee) or connect to high <br />ground. They can also be built <br />up against a building's founda: <br />tion walls. A sump and pump <br />will be needed to pump out <br />water that seeps under the wall. <br />Floodwalls, levees, or berms <br />may not be allowed in your area <br />if they could create a drainage <br />problem on your neighbor's <br />property. Check with your build- <br />ing department before you <br />build. <br /> <br /> <br />Floodwalls of all types work <br />best in places where flooding is <br />less than 3 feet deep. If floodwa- <br /> <br />ters near your house develop <br />swift currents, earthen levees <br />and berms cannot be used- <br />they may wash away. Floodwalls <br />and berms may not be appropri- <br />ate for homes with basements. <br />If there is not enough room <br />for a berm or levee, you may be <br />able to build a floodwall of con- <br />crete, which takes up less room. <br />The wall should contain internal <br />reinforcing bars to add strength <br />to the wall and to help it resist <br />cracking and damage from set- <br />tling over time. The wall must <br />be properly anchored to with- <br />stand the same water pressure <br />that can destroy basement walls. <br />(See page 8.) <br /> <br />4. Dry Floodprooftng <br />Dry floodproofing means sealing <br />a building to keep floodwaters <br />out. All areas below the flood <br />protection level are made water- <br />tight. Walls are coated with <br />plastic or rubberized sheeting <br />or special waterproofing com- <br />pounds. Openings such as <br />doors, windows, sewer lines, <br />and vents are closed permanent- <br />ly, or they are temporarily sealed <br />with removable shields or sand- <br />bags. <br /> <br />,~ ,?/ /// I <br />---L, 1/ I , I <br />,- I ' / ,-I- <br /> I I~I <br /> --L <br /> IIII 1_, <br /> I: II I' _I' <br /> '-l , I <br /> IIII ,- <br /> IIII I <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Dry flood proofing can only be <br /> <br />Rebuild and Floodproof <br /> <br /> <br />37 <br />