7 Effective Measures To Prevent Flood Damage

Floods are catastrophic natural occurrences that cannot be prevented, but you can prevent excess or any damage. Lives have been lost to floods or associated water-borne diseases, and homes swept away, and economies destroyed. Despite the unpredictability of this natural calamity, most of the effects are preventable.

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Here are some of the most effective measures that protect against flood damage:

Moving or elevating your home:

Prevention or management of any possible damage starts from you. If you live in a flood prone place, then you should build a flood resistant home that is elevated. You should also consider using the strongest building materials available to keep the house strong after the floods. Apart from elevation, you may consider moving out of a flood prone area.

Use of Sandbags

Sandbags are effective as they fill gaps offering temporary, if not permanent protection. The sandbags can also be used to raise a levee. However, for the sandbags to work well, they should be filled up and stacked properly. A good solution for this is using plastic sheeting. Burlap bags can be used, but they rot so they are considered uneconomical.

Use of flood maps

Education and knowledge imparted to people living in flood prone areas is an important step to preventing flood damage. This doesn’t mean giving vague information. The meteorological department should be well-equipped to monitor weather and climate patterns thus warning people in advance.

Once it is known that a flood looms, then the responsible departments can send educative materials with information about how to stay safe and how to prevent further damage to property, and also how to prevent contraction of eater-borne diseases. Bill boards and digital signage are effective in spreading the necessary information.

Stopping sewer back-up

Back flow sewer valves ensure that waste and water leaves out through the valve and once this passes, the valve prevents back flow. Unfortunately, some flood prone areas have sewers in poor states and when it floods, water and waste drainage is affected. If the worse happens, there will be a disease breakout. Therefore, cities should have their sewer lines maintained often and even more if floods are anticipated to keep people safe.

Plugs, seepage barriers, caps, and valves are available for use to prevent flooding and any associated damage.

Use of Water-inflated barrier series

This is a new strategy of preventing flooding damage. It incorporates use of water inflated tubing to close gaps or to raise the height of an existing levee temporarily. Before starting the set up, you should have tubing, connectors, stakes, or ties in place. A pump should also be in the protected area.

Tackling climate change

This is a long shot but governments need to put measures to protect the climate and lower global warming. Climate change is responsible for flooding in most places and, therefore, management of the problem is necessary.

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Protection of wetlands

Strategic introduction of wetlands is a long term flood management process. The trees are natural spongers that will soak up all moisture.

Restoration of rivers’ natural courses
Re-meandering rivers and re-introduction of bends straightened because of navigation will reduce flooding.

In conclusion, flood damage can be prevented if all people, governments, and corporations join hands. Apply these strategies, as well as introduction of water storage areas to reduce or prevent all forms of flood damage.

Author Bio

Dan Wilcox is a disaster management expert working with a renowned meteorological hub. He works more with flooding departments and has written several articles on flood damage and prevention. Check out his Facebook page and his blog to learn more.