Climate, Soil, Environmental Concerns

No weather-related natural disaster wreaks such widespread havoc as a flood.

Take the flooding caused by hurricane bashed levees in New Orleans last year. Rebuilding has hardly just begun.

Now, with precipitation occurring nearly every 1.2 days in California and the Pacific Northwest since the end of February, waterways are swollen and flooding has begun.

You can, however, mitigate a flood's damage by taking mitigation steps ranging from simple do-it-yourself upgrades to hiring a professional for major retrofitting.

Drainage

The best flood mitigation strategy begins with proper drainage. Experts say you should maintain a slope like an apron around your home's perimeter. Concrete walks and patios should have a similar drainage pitch.

The sloping allow water to flow away from your home. Well-maintained roof gutters and downspouts fitted with extensions and splash pads also help direct the water away from your foundation.

You may be able to complete basic drainage work yourself, but installing pumps, drainage systems and waterproofing requires professional help or consultation.

Retrofitting

Subfloor Drainage: If you've ever had standing water beneath your house or in the basement, consult with an engineer. You may need to install a subfloor drainage system tied into a surface drainage system outside around the perimeter of the basement or first-level wall.

Sump Pumps: If gravity isn't on your side and the subfloor drainage system can't channel water to the surface drainage system, you may need a sump pump. Powered by electricity with a back-up battery or water pressure mechanism, sump pumps can come with an automatic float switch that signals them to start once water reaches a certain level. Sump pumps also may be necessary if water does not naturally drain away from the house.

Sewer Line Back Flow Valve: Another useful device is a sewer line back flow valve, which prevents flood waters from forcing sewage back into the home.

Drain Caps: Floor, appliance and other drain caps can be a last line of defense against backed-up water and sewage lines.

French Drains: A more elaborate "French drain" is an underground drainage system that traps and redirects ground water before it seeps into your house. As ground water moves toward your home, a French drain redirects the flow down through a wall of gravel into a drainage pipe to be carried off or pumped away.

"The trick to the whole system is providing a means for the end of the French drain system to 'daylight' or expose itself on the lowest portion of your lot. This is where the collected water will discharge," says Cincinnati-based Tim Carter of AskTheBuilder.Com.

Waterproofed Walls: Exterior waterproofing and drain tiles keep water from intruding into your home. Both require professional installation.

"Do not listen to the well-meaning folks at the do-it-yourself mart. Call the manufacturer/distributor and get the names of installers and customers who have tried it," said Mike Sterling, of San Anselmo, CA-based Sterling Inspection Services.

Sealing your home against flood water leaves it without compensating pressure from the inside. Have an engineer certify that the walls you waterproof won't buckle under pressure.

Reconstruction

The Federal Emergency Management Agency warns that some major retrofitting measures may be illegal. Don't try any of these improvements unless you first check with local governing agencies.

Building flood walls and levees near your home to block or redirect flood waters. The construction requires adequate land space, needs periodic maintenance, could also divert flood waters to neighboring homes or other structures and may be extremely costly.

Elevating your home. Piers, posts, columns or foundation walls require extensive engineering and may not be permitted near fault zones. They are also costly.

Moving to higher ground. Perhaps the most cost prohibitive flood mitigation project of all, moving your home, requires permit approval, dismantling some structures of the home, extensive engineering, specialized movers, a new site purchase and a disposition for the lot you vacate.

Advance Consideration

Home buyers are advised to conduct a thorough inspection of a home site before they buy. Your real estate agent can direct you to the most recent flood zone maps and maps that reveal the potential for other natural disasters.

As global weather patterns become more severe, keeping tabs on climatic conditions and how they can impact the location where you choose to buy a home is key.

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