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<br /> <br />dows at commercial structures must be unblocked to serve their main purpose. These <br />types of openings cannot be permanently flood proofed, but they can be fitted with re- <br />movable flood shields. The placement and installation of such devices, however, woold <br />require several hours. Therefore, a flood warning system would have to be established <br />before such flood proofing measures could become operational. <br />Many contingent or standby flood proofing devices have relatively long periods of <br />usefulness--for example, the steel or aluminum flood shields. Building remodeling may <br />alter an opening in such a way that its flood shield is no longer useful, however. In such <br />cases, emergency sandbagging or other temporary measures may be needed. The out- <br />moding of protective measures will be less likely if they are made a part of a building's <br />superstructure and can retract into the ceiling above entrances. <br />Emergency measures. -These are measures which are carried out during an actual <br />flood experience (Figure 6). These measures may be designed to keep water out of build- <br />ings, for example, the sandbagging of entrances or the use of planking covered over with <br />polyethylene sheeting. More often they are intended only to protect equipment and stock. <br />A widely used emergency measure is the planned removal of contents to higher locations <br />when a certain flood stage is reached. <br />Emergency measures have proven to be an effective means of reducing flood losses, <br />particularly where flood warnings are issued several days in advance of the water's ar- <br />rival. At times, emergency measures can include actual construction. In some cases <br />the lower sections of windows and doors have been bricked shut in anticipation of flooding, <br />on other occasions temporary walls and levees have been built to keep flood waters away <br />from structures. In some instances where it was not possible to prevent the entry of flood <br />waters, machinery has been dismantled and taken to sites above flood stages, and large <br />quantities of stock have been relocated above the reach of flood waters. Emergency meas- <br />ures are generally less effective than permanent or contingent measures because they are <br />more susceptible to carelessness or complacency. <br />Owners and managers of buildings are cautioned not to undertake piecemeal flood <br />proofing measures such as installing standpipes or barricading entrances and store win- <br />dows without professional assistance since such measures could worsen the flood damages. <br /> <br /> <br />:,'MO~~iE' <br />c=.'f 4=;,' l <br />;;,s:"""I,~~,,*,'~.~I,"~ <br /> <br />~-=.% <br />~:ffi~~. .a;;r <br />I&""'''''~ <br />~~~ ,n:~'l"~ <br /> <br />Figure 6. - Emergency Flood Proofing. Heavy planking covered over with polyethylene <br />sheets (see arrow) was used to give emergency protection to this Waterloo, Iowa, plant <br />during the April, 1965, flood on the Cedar River. (Photo by U. S. Army Corps of Engi- <br />neers.) <br /> <br />367-349 0 ~ 70 - 3 <br /> <br />9 <br />