Preparedness Alert: Weather Systems Converging For "Perfect Storm" - 1/6/2005 - Health Safety

Preparedness Alert: Weather Systems Converging For "Perfect Storm"
by Broderick Perkins

According to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center's weekly Weather Hazards Assessment and Federal Emergency Management Agency's Weather Outlook Mother Nature is about to dump meteorological soup largely on the West and Midwest.

The culprit is a trio of major weather systems, one each from the north, west and southwest, converging to bring heavier than normal precipitation and flooding.

 

• The "Polar Express" -- A blustery mass of frigid air from Alaska and Canada threatens to chill the normally temperate climate of the Pacific Northwest with snow, ice, chilly rains and perhaps other cold precipitation. In 1950, 21 inches of snow fell on Seattle from a similar system.

   

• The "Pacific or Pineapple Express" -- Threatening to cause flooding, avalanches and mudslides, this system of warm, wet storms from Hawaii is heading east to Southern California and is already drying out from heavy rains and highway-closing snow and ice storms.

   

• The Gulf System -- Warm, wet weather from the Gulf of Mexico is set to drench the saturated Ohio, Mississippi and Tennessee valleys. A similar system caused record flooding in Ohio River Valley in 1937.

It's not a pretty weather map.

Residents in these regions who haven't already taken steps to mitigate the effects of these kinds of storms should heed the warnings and take steps to do so now.

Especially for those living in low lying and flood-prone areas, that means preparing or obtaining emergency preparedness kits, checking in with your local government's emergency preparedness or response center, determining if you have access to sandbagging facilities and going over your insurance policy. Given moratoriums imposed by the National Flood Insurance Program during storm periods, those not required to carry the insurance may be unable to obtain it right now but those who can should.

Otherwise homeowners and others can mitigate a flood's damage by taking steps ranging from simple do-it-yourself upgrades to hiring a professional for major retrofitting. Right now, speed is of the essence.

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.

Such slopes allow water to flow away from your home. Well-maintained roof gutters and downspouts fitted with extensions and splash pads also help.

You may be able to complete basic drainage work yourself, but installing pumps, drainage systems and waterproofing requires professional help or consultation difficult to obtain at the last minute.

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.

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

FEMA 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.