Flooding is every homeowner’s worst nightmare. It causes massive damage to the property, destroys the habitual lifestyle entirely, and may become really life-threatening if you don’t prepare for it accordingly.
But are homeowners really that defenseless against flooding? While massive flood events are happening more and more often, information about flood safety and modern flood control is spreading worldwide, becoming more accessible and available for all sorts of properties.
In this article, we shall talk about the essential flood control solutions and safety rules for homeowners, those who live in residential areas and are responsible for their own safety, safety of their family members, and the value of their real estate and belongings.
Be proactive!
The severity of water damage and destruction does not really depend on the character of the flood, terrain, climate, and other geographical factors that you may think of initially. Statistically, minor seasonal floods cause much more water damage and losses to an average homeowner than the massive floods and storms that you see in the news from time to time.
Why does it happen? Mainly because we tend to activate and become proactive about our flood safety and protection only when we are promised to witness a massive disaster. Until then, yearly maintenance of the landscape, chores like cleaning gutters, and fixing minor cracks in the basement walls seem not that urgent and therefore lead to massive water damage that simply accumulates and worsens with time. Not to mention the idea of spending several hundred on flood barriers.
In other words, the only way to guarantee your safety and prevent massive losses is to take minor flooding as seriously as you would in case of a massive flood alert broadcasted on National TV.
Here are the 3 essential proactive steps every homeowner should take to prepare for any sort of flooding:
- Personal protection: evacuate or shelter in place as needed or recommended.
- Property protection: reduce the risk of damage to your home from flooding.
- Risk management: understand your risk and take steps to prepare for repairs.
Flooding. As a property owner, you can only hope that it will never happen in your area and do your best to prepare and protect your belongings. But floods are happening more and more often worldwide, raising our chances of witnessing and suffering from this natural disaster in the observable future. That is why flood safety is one of the essential topics today, along with flood control solutions and ways to restore your property after water damage.
And while there are tons of flood safety tips and checklists all over the Internet, today we decided to draw your attention to the main DON’Ts of surviving the most frequent and destructive natural disaster in the world.
Flood safety mistakes to avoid.
You probably know what you need to do when you notice floodwater entering your house. You need to prevent water damage and move to a safe area. But most people who face flooding for the first time tend to make certain mistakes, causing even more losses and putting their health and even lives at risk.
Don’t try DIY solutions.
Most people consider modern flood control solutions costly and look for alternative DIY tips, which is perfectly OK if you are an expert flood fighter and know exactly how and when to protect from water damage.
There are so many tips on the Internet that the desire to save some money and explore alternative flood safety solutions is pretty understandable. However, be careful!
If it is your first flooding or the disaster is going to be serious since authorities inform you about evacuation possibilities and encourage citizens to temporarily relocate, or the weather channel is warning about significant storms and other flood-related disasters, don’t try your luck and go for recommended and certified flood control methods like flood barriers for home, flood gates for garage or even the good old sandbagging.
DIY floodproofing may work perfectly if we are talking about minor repairs that will keep snowmelt water or rain away from your belongings, but avoid it when you are facing massive seasonal flooding or a flash flood.
The biggest problem with flood safety is the fact that you probably won’t have too much information about the approaching disaster and its severity before it actually knocks on your door. In other words, no one can tell you for sure whether to protect your house from massive destructive flooding or just reinforce the building in the face of annual snowmelt or precipitation floods, which may not be as spectacular as flash floods, but can cause even more damage, health, and even life hazards.
That is why in this article, we shall go over the 2 most probable scenarios:
- you got your warning beforehand and have enough time and resources to protect from flooding;
- The flooding is already approaching your area, and the time is very limited.
In both cases, the whole purpose of your flood safety measures remains the same: to stay safe and healthy, avoid injuries, health hazards, etc., and protect your property from water damage as much as possible.
However, the approach to flood safety in both cases will be entirely different. In the first case, you may have enough time to research different options and consider various scenarios, from staying in the building and therefore reinforcing it accordingly to evacuating the area after floodproofing the property as much as possible.
In the second case, however, you may be captured by the disaster and have no options to choose from and therefore need to act fast and most rationally to minimize the risk for you and your family as well as your property.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A FLOOD BEFOREHAND.
Let’s say it is the most optimistic scenario. You have heard about the approaching flooding beforehand and have time to rearrange and protect your property and decide whether you are staying in the house or moving to a safer area.
Here are the essential steps to take:
- Block the doorways, gates, and windows – use flood barriers for home to protect every passage from approaching floodwater. Install flood barriers as window shutters to prevent additional damage and hazards in case wind, or some flying objects break the windows. Use extension poles to connect several flood barriers together and create a 3-foot dike for a wider passage like a garage gate or around any outdoor object like a swimming pool, shed, etc.;
- Move all the outdoor furniture and equipment inside – not only can they get damaged beyond repair by the floodwater, but such objects can become an additional hazard to your property once caught by the water stream;
- Protect the vehicles – water damage can be a serious safety hazard for any kind of vehicle. It can damage the electricity system, destroy the tires, and lead to the development of mold and fungus in the upholstery. Make sure to move all vehicles to higher ground or install flood gates to reinforce garage passage and keep water away from your car;
- Install non-return valves – this simple device prevents floodwater from entering your house through pipes and also keeps rats, frogs, snakes, and other pests from getting into your house during flooding.
In light of projections that climate change will make flash floods more frequent and severe throughout the country, as well as the fact that many existing homes have been situated on floodplains, investing in flood defence equipment now may protect your property in the future. Being proactive is the single most essential thing you can do to save your property, at least according to the Environmental Protection Agency. If you take this step, you may be able to reduce the quantity of water that can enter your property from the very beginning of the process. Know more about dam easy flood Kuwait.
Defences Against The Onset Of Floods
It is feasible to quickly and simply put-up demountable flood barriers if a flood watch is issued for your town or the area around it. The property may only be protected for a brief period, depending on the severity of the flood; but, even in the most catastrophic of situations, this buffer of time may be fairly large. As a flood defence barrier, the product itself slides into two permanent vertical slots that are fixed to the wall on each side of the entry. These slots are attached to the wall to prevent flooding. These holes have a permanent attachment to the wall where they are located. Learn more about home flood barriers.
Doors Leading To Flooding
An alternative to the flood barrier is the flood composite door, which may protect your house from up to 0.6 metres of water. These doors have completed all of the required examinations and certifications, and they are available in a dizzying array of styles, colour schemes, and pattern configurations.
Being dealt a blow
The walls and floors of your home may be coated with a liquid known as tanking, which can also be applied as a paste. It is often used in basements, although it may even be seen on ground levels on occasion. The majority of retailers that sell home improvement supplies also sell tanking. It does this by creating a covering that is waterproof and by forming a bond with the masonry, which prevents flood water from entering the structure.
Valves That Stop A Flow In The Opposite Direction
There have been non-return valves installed in the building’s toilets and showers in case there is a flood. These valves will prevent any sewage or wastewater from going backwards into the structure. These valves only allow flow in one direction to prevent flooding and serve another purpose as well. They do not work in both directions. If there is flooding, the valves will shut instantly and by themselves, so preventing any damage to the property.
Discs that may be placed above vents
The installation of flood protection in the form of vent covers is a solution that is not only cost-effective but also simple to put into action. As soon as they are installed, they will stop flood water from entering the property via the airbricks that are already there on the land. They are fastened with screws into the wall of the property that is encircled by the airbricks.