3 Ways to Prevent Flooding

Floods can cause major destruction and devastation to both people and property. There has been a raw history of American flooding from many different types of scenarios. I wanted to touch on how to be prepared for a flood, but I also want to talk about 3 ways to prevent flooding. If we can do some of these flood prevention tips now, it could save us a lot of time in the future. Floodwaters can come from heavy rainfall, water runoff in the spring, or snow storms during winter months. Flooded homes can also come from broken pipes, cluttered rain gutters from leaves, and sewer backups. It’s important to take steps to prevent flooding from happening.

Here are 3 ways to prevent flooding:

1. Manage Water Levels Through Retention Basins

Retention basins, also known as stormwater management wetlands, have been proven effective in trapping excess water before it reaches areas that are prone to flooding. These basins provide an area for the excess water to slowly leak out of and reduce the risk of flood damage.

They also help reduce soil erosion, which can lead to more severe floods if not addressed. When the heavy rains come, the retention basins help way more than storm drains ever could! Creative Water Storage Solutions for Emergencies 

2. Construct Higher Ground Structures

Higher ground structures such as levees, dams, and flood walls are often used in areas with a high risk of flooding as a form of protection from the high waters associated with floods.

Levees act as boundaries that keep rivers or streams in their place while flood walls serve as a barrier between large bodies of water and streets or buildings.

Dams can be used in much the same way, but they must be monitored by professionals due to their potential for failure during times of heavy flooding. How to Build an Underground Shelter in the Woods

3. Improve Land Usage Practices

Land usage practices can also play a role in preventing flooding when done responsibly and thoughtfully. Keeping green spaces open allows more areas for water absorption rather than running off into roads or other populated areas. This is often referred to as green infrastructure.

Other land use practices include planting trees near waterways that act like sponges absorbing excess rainwater before it has a chance to reach populated areas or create dangerous floods downstream.

Utilizing permeable pavement which is designed with tiny holes that allow rainwater through while simultaneously catching pollutants before they enter nearby waterways. And creating rooftop gardens on commercial buildings which store rainfall where plants can absorb it naturally without putting additional strain on urban drainage systems.

By implementing these three strategies, we can help protect ourselves from the possibly destructive effects of flooding caused by natural disasters or excessive human activity. These activities include overdevelopment or deforestation activities near rivers and streams that increase the vulnerability against flash floods during heavy rainfalls.

How to be Prepared for a Flood

Preparing for a flood is important in order to protect yourself, your family, and your property from potential damage. The challenge is most of the steps mentioned aren’t the kind of things the typical homeowner can implement, even if they wanted to.

Now that we’ve gone over the 3 ways to prevent flooding, here are some steps you can take to be prepared for a flood:

Create an Emergency Plan

Create an emergency plan that outlines the steps you will take in case flooding occurs. Make sure to include evacuation plans and instructions for your family or fellow workers on what to do with specific items such as pets or valuable belongings during a flood.

It’s also important to practice the plan regularly with your family and coworkers so everyone knows what to expect in the event of a flood.

Hopefully, you have downloaded my FREE binder contents with instructions for making an emergency binder. Food Storage Moms FREE Printable Emergency Binder Download Please be patient, it takes a few seconds to download.

Check Your Home’s Flood Risk

Find out if your home is at risk of flooding by contacting local officials or researching online resources like FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program which provides maps and data regarding potential floods in certain areas. Having a flood risk assessment performed can provide some comfort in knowing what to expect when extra water from various sources comes into play. If you live in a known floodplain, there should already be information available for sources to use in their assessment.

This will help you better prepare by understanding the likelihood of a flood occurring and how much damage it could potentially cause so you can make decisions on prevention measures such as installing sump pumps, having sand for sandbags or installing other protective equipment or diversion channels around your home if needed. Flooding: Everything You Need to Know

Prepare Your Home for Flooding

Take steps to protect your home from possible floods, such as checking that gutters are properly installed and functioning correctly. Make sure downspouts lead away from your foundation, so water doesn’t seep into basement walls. Look for and seal any foundation cracks.

Purchasing waterproof sealant for windows and doors when possible, elevating major appliances and valuables off of the floor and in case of water reaching higher ground in your single-level home. Do the same preventive steps if you live in a home with a basement.

Building up soil along the foundation walls on the outside of the house to act as an extra barrier against rising waters may be a change in landscape option. Make sure all exterior sewer systems are clear of debris, which can prevent normal draining during times of heavy rain or snowmelt runoffs.

Check all locations where utilities connect and enter your home to make sure those are properly sealed. Keeping your home’s drywall and carpets dry is critical since it is an important step in the mitigation of possible mold growth from moisture.

Other Home Preparation Steps:

• Consider putting insulation on pipes running down exterior walls, particularly in bathrooms and your laundry if you live in a cold climate area.
• If you have any hint of a plumbing leak, have a professional plumber do the repairs necessary.
• Clear away vegetation close to home foundations, especially small trees and any bushes with thick roots. They may be an issue if infiltration takes place into the home through cracks you may not know are there.
• If you live next to reservoirs, ponds, or detention basins, monitor the water level and alert authorities if you see them get close to an overflow state. If water tanks are located close to and above your home’s location, keep an eye out for any damage or leakage observed. Again, notify the authorities if you have any concerns from recent activity that is new like ground sloughing off.
• Be sure to keep your homeowner’s insurance coverage current and updated to match market values in your area. If looking for a home to purchase, be aware that flood insurance can prove to be expensive. If locating near the ocean, consider the issue of rising sea levels and the effects climate change may be having on that area.

More Tips to Help With Flooding

Along with the 3 ways to prevent flooding and how to be prepared for flooding, here are some other tips to check out!

• Think twice about building close to coastal communities. Because of the location of coastal communities, structural damage is possible, even if the hurricane or storm doesn’t hit you directly. Hurricane Sandy is a good example.
• Check with the local government to make sure you’re not in a high-risk area for flooding. A flood-prone area doesn’t always mean a flood has happened there, it means there’s potential for significant damage in that area if it does flood.
• Flooding can occur when you least expect it. The type of flooding that happens includes rainfall, hurricanes, storm surges, rapidly melting snow, and flash flooding.
• Flood control is hard, which is why you need to make sure you pay attention to any advance warning that occurs. Get flood protection just in case any damage does occur to your home, you will be protected.
• Pay attention to flood levels, so you know how close you are to experiencing any damage. Your life is more important than anything else.
• Look at the flood map of your area, and know your evacuation zones and the flood risk management of where you live!
• Don’t be afraid of insurance claims if the time comes. Insurance companies like to play tough when it comes to payouts, but this is WHY you have insurance, so don’t be afraid to use it!

Final Word

These are just basic tips for emergency measures families should take when they’re dealing with flooding. Take a peek at your flood zone map, so you know exactly where you live and how to best build flood resilience. Remember that after a major flood occurs, the Federal Emergency Management Agency shows up to help survey the damage. However, it’s your job to know your level of risk for flood water and how it could impact your life. What are you doing to be prepared for a flood? Do you think these 3 ways to prevent flooding will actually work? May God Bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Flooding with Sandbags AdobeStock_150576867 By mbruxelle