Floodplains perform certain natural and beneficial functions which cannot be duplicated elsewhere. In their natural state, floodplains have an important impact on flooding. Flood waters can spread over large areas in floodplains which have not been developed, thereby reducing floodwater velocities and providing flood storage to reduce peak flows down-stream. In this way, the relatively undeveloped areas of Taylor Park, East Bay Country Club and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) property north-west of East Bay Country Club have reduced the severity of flooding in adjacent areas. Natural floodplains, especially in coastal areas such as Largo Narrows Park, also reduce wind and wave impacts, and undisturbed natural vegetation such as mangroves serves to stabilize soils and minimize erosion as a result of flooding.
Beyond simple flood control, undeveloped floodplains also improve water quality in areas where natural vegetation filters some of the sediment and impurities out of runoff, which might otherwise contaminate large bodies of fresh water, such as Taylor Lake, Walsingham Reservoir or Lake Seminole. Natural floodplains moderate water temperature, reducing the possibility of adverse impacts on aquatic plants and animals. They provide habitat for diverse species of plants and animals, some of which cannot live anywhere else.
Of special importance in Pinellas County and the entire Tampa Bay region, which suffers from a chronic water shortage, floodplains preserved without significant development can act as recharge areas for groundwater, helping to replenish the aquifer on which we all depend for our drinking water.
Unfortunately, most of Largo’s floodplain areas are developed and anyone who lives or owns property in a floodplain does face the risk of flood damage.
5 Steps You
Can Take Today
Make an itemized list of
per-sonal property, including
fur-nishings, clothing and
valu-ables, and take photographs
of your home, inside and out.
These will help your
insur-ance adjuster in settling claims
and prove uninsured losses,
which are tax-deductible.
Keep your insurance
poli-cies and list of personal
prop-erty in a safe place, such as
a safe deposit box. Know
the name, phone number
and location of agent (s)
who issued your policies.
Learn the safest route from your
home or place of business to
high, safe ground or the nearest
shelter, just in case you should
have to evacuate in a hurry.
Keep a portable radio,
emer-gency cooking equipment and
flashlights in working order,
and keep batteries on hand.
If you live in a frequently
flood-ed area, keep on hand
sand-bags, plywood and plastic
sheeting to help protect your
property. Sandbags should not
be stacked directly against the
outer walls of a building, since
wet bags may create added
pressure on the foundation.
Natural & Beneficial Functions of
The Flood Hazard
Property located in a “100-year floodplain,” also known as a “Special Flood Hazard Area” (SFHA) has an elevation above mean sea level which is low enough that there is a one-percent probability of flooding in any given year. This may sound like a remote possibil-ity of flooding, but it is important to bear in mind that it is an average probabilpossibil-ity over the course of an entire year.
During the dry months, flooding is highly unlikely; but during the rainy season or any other period of intense rainfall, storm water drains from other areas of the City into the flood-plains. If the volume of storm water runoff exceeds the capacity of the creeks, ditches and other drainage improvements in these areas, then surrounding properties (such as yours) are at a significantly greater risk of flooding than are properties at higher elevations. Although Largo has never suffered a flooding disaster comparable to the Mississippi River floods of 1993 and 1995 or the Georgia/Florida Panhandle floods of July 1994, we have had heavy rainfalls that resulted in flooding in low-lying areas such as McKay Creek and Allen’s Creek basins, and the areas surrounding the East Bay Country Club and Lake Seminole. In September 1983, 19 inches of rain fell in just four days.
In September 1988, 15 inches of rain fell within a four day period, with 8 inches falling in just 8 hours on the final day. On one weekend in June 1995, a severe storm dropped 9 inches of rain in a very short time. Heavy rainstorms, especially in the summer months, are common in our area. Obviously, a hurricane or tropical storm would bring even heavier rainfall, driven by high winds and accompanied by a tidal storm surge which could delay normal drainage into Tampa Bay, the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico. Even though Tropical Storm Josephine came ashore in the Big Bend area some 200 miles north of us on October 7, 1996, just the fringes of that storm caused heavy rain, severe flooding and major property damage in parts of Pinellas County.
City of Largo Community Development Department 2
Development Permit Requirements
All new development and structural additions and most retrofit-ting procedures require permits issued by the City Building Divi-sion. The 100-year flood elevation must be determined and certi-fied by a registered surveyor or civil engineer in conjunction with all development applications for new construction or structural additions within Special Flood Hazard Areas. For nonresidential and multifamily residential development, site plan approval by the Community Development Department is also required. Any im-provements (pavings, berms, filling or excavation of land, reten-tion areas, etc.) which could affect the amount, velocity, depth or direction of stormwater runoff must be reviewed and approved by the City’s Engineering Division.
After completion of any new construction or structural addition, an Elevation Certificate (standard FEMA form) must be prepared and certified by a registered surveyor or city engineer, and submitted to the City Building Division before a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion will be issued. Elevation Certificates are available in the Building Department for review; copies are available for a copying fee.
IMPORTANT: Development Code Subsection 6206 provides that as soon as the cumula-tive dollar value of building additions and certain other improvements permitted after Janu-ary 1, 2003 exceeds 49 percent of the fair market value of the existing structure(s) as of January 1, 2003, the original structure and all additions built after January 1, 2003 must be brought into full conformity with applicable flood protection requirements. This could include raising all structures to the minimum flood protection elevation.
For more information or to report illegal floodplain development, call the Community De-velopment Department (787-6749), the Building Division (586-7488) or the Engineering Division (587-6713).
The Warning
System
In the event of an approaching hurricane or other severe weather, the Pinellas County Department of Emergency Management will issue warnings over the Emergency Broadcast System via radio and television stations. If necessary, county and munici-pal police and fire departments will issue warnings by mobile loudspeakers or door-to-door contact. You may be advised to take certain emergency precautions, such as turning off electricity and gas, as well as other measures required during a severe flood hazard warning. You would also be advised as to evacuation routes and the locations of emergency shelters.
TIP: Residential improvements such as paving, berms, filling and excavation can lead to increased flooding of adjacent land. Be sure to have your plans reviewed and approved by the Largo Engineering Division before you build.
What To Do
When the Flood
Warning Comes
The article Reducing Loss and Avoiding Injury ( on page 5) contains information compiled from FEMA and SPCA bro-chures and outlines precautionary mea-sures that should be taken in advance of any emergency, when flooding is imminent and after water has receded. Another ex-cellent source of information is the annual Hurricane Guide published by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, avail-able at Largo City Hall and other locations throughout the city.Drainage System
Maintenance
The City’s public drainage improvements (ditches, storm sewers, retention ponds, control structures, etc.) are jointly maintained by our Public Works Department and Recreation and Parks Depart-ment. Our primary objective is to keep these drainage improve-ments free of excess vegetation and other obstructions to maintain necessary storage capacity and free flow of stormwater and re-duce the probability of flooding. Dumping of trash, yard clippings or other debris into streams, ditches or storm sewers can create obstructions and cause localized flooding even during moderate rainstorms. For this reason, such dumping is specifically prohib-ited in Sections 7-7(b), 13-6(b) and 22-106 of the Largo Code of Ordinances.
To report any drainage problems, or to report illegal dumping into the drainage system, please call the Engineering Division at 587-6713. If you have flooding, drainage or storm sewer problems the Public Works Department Streets and Drainage Division will help to identify the cause and find a solution. Call our Field Engineering Supervisor at 587-6718.
The National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP)
The federal Flood Insurance Act of 1973 requires that any building which has a federal or federally-related mortgage and is located within an SFHA must carry flood insurance. Some lenders require flood insurance regardless of the type of mortgage being sought. Even if there are no mortgages on a given property, it is never-theless advisable to carry flood insurance. Standard homeowners policies do not necessarily cover losses due to flooding. IMPOR-TANT: As of March 1995, there is a 30-day waiting period before a federal flood insurance policy becomes effective. Don’t wait until the last minute to buy flood insurance.For more information on the National Flood Insurance Program, call your insurance agent or the Florida Dept. of Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management at (850)488-8460. The Largo Library Reference Section also has a collection of publications by FEMA and by other agencies that provide considerable information on Special Flood Hazard Areas and the National Flood Insurance Program.
City of Largo Community Development Department 4
Facts About The NFIP
Who needs flood insurance? Everyone!
And almost everyone in a participating community of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) can buy flood insurance. Nation-wide, more than 20,000 communities have joined the Program. In some instances, people have been told that they cannot buy flood insurance because of where they live.
To clear this up and other misconceptions about National Flood Insurance, the NFIP has compiled a list of common myths about the Program, and the real facts behind them, to give you the full story about this valuable protection.
You can’t buy flood insurance if you are located in a high-flood-risk area.
You can buy National Flood Insurance no matter where you live if your community participates in the NFIP, except in Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) areas. The Program was created in 1968 to make feder-ally backed flood insurance available to property owners who live in eligible communities. Flood insurance was then virtually un-available from the private insurance industry. The Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended, requires federally regulated lending institutions to make sure that mortgage loans secured by buildings in high-flood-risk areas are protected by flood insurance. Lenders should notify borrowers, prior to closing, that their prop-erty is located in a high-flood-risk area and that National Flood Insurance is required.
You can’t buy flood insurance immediately be-fore or during a flood.
You can purchase National Flood Insurance at any time. There is usually a 30-day waiting period after premium payment before the policy is effective, with the following exceptions:
1. If the initial purchase of flood insurance is in connection with the making, increasing, extending, or renewing of a loan, there is no waiting period. Coverage becomes effective at the time of the loan, provided application and payment of premium is made at or prior to loan closing.
2. If the initial purchase of flood insurance is made during the 13-month period following the effective date of a revised flood map for a community, there is a 1-day waiting period. This applies only where the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is revised to show the building to be in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) when it had not been in an SFHA.
The policy does not cover a “loss in progress,” defined by the NFIP as a loss occurring as of 12:01a.m. On the first day of the policy term. In addition, you cannot increase the amount of insur-ance coverage you have during a loss in progress.
Homeowners insurance policies cover flooding.
Unfortunately, many home and business owners do not find out until it is too late that their homeowners and business multiperil policies do not cover flood-ing. The NFIP offers a separate policy that protects the single most important financial asset, which for most people is their home or business. Homeowners can include contents coverage in their NFIP policy. Residential and commercial renters can purchase contents coverage. Business owners can purchase flood insurance coverage for their buildings and contents/inven-tory and, by doing so, protect their livelihood.
Flood insurance is only available to homeowners.
Most people who live in NFIP participating communi-ties, including renters and condo unit owners, are eli-gible to purchase federally backed flood insurance. A maximum of $250,000 of building coverage is available for single-family residential buildings; $250,000 per unit for tial condominiums. The limit for contents coverage on all residen-tial buildings is $100,000, which is also available to renters. Commercial structures can be insured to a limit of $500,000 for the building and $500,000 for the contents. The maximum insur-ance limit may not exceed the insurable value of the property.
You can’t buy flood insurance if your property has been flooded.
You are still eligible to purchase flood insurance after your home, apartment, or business has been flooded, provided that your community is participat-ing in the NFIP.
Only residents of high-flood-risk areas need to insure their property.
All areas are susceptible to flooding, although to varying degrees. If you live in a low-to-moderate flood risk area, it is advisable to have flood insur-ance. Between 20 and 25 percent of the NFIP’s claims come from outside high-flood-risk areas. Residential and commercial property owners located in low-to-moderate risk areas should ask their agents if they are eligible for the Preferred Risk Policy, which provides very inexpensive flood insurance protection.
National Flood Insurance can only be purchased through the NFIP directly.
NFIP flood insurance is sold through private insur-ance companies and agents, and is backed by the federal government.
The NFIP does not offer any type of basement coverage.
Yes it does. The NFIP defines a basement as any area of a building with a floor that is below ground level on all sides. While flood insurance does not cover basement improvements (such as finished walls, floors, or ceilings), or personal belongings kept in a basement (such as furniture and other contents), it does cover structural elements and essential equipment.
City of Largo Community Development Department 4
The following items are covered under building coverage, as long as they are connected to a power source, if required, and installed in their functioning location:
• Sump pumps
• Well water tanks and pumps, cisterns, and the water in them
• Oil tanks and the oil in them, natural gas tanks and the gas in them
• Pumps and/or tanks used in conjunction with solar energy • Furnaces, water heaters, air conditioners, and heat pumps • Electrical junction and circuit breaker boxes and required • utility connections
• Foundation elements
• Stairways, staircases, elevators, and dumbwaiters • Unpainted drywall walls and ceilings, including fiberglass
insulation • Cleanup
The following items are covered under contents coverage: Clothes washers and dryers
Food freezers and the food in them
The NFIP recommends both building and contents coverage for the broadest protection.
The NFIP encourages coastal development.
One of the NFIP’s primary objectives is to guide development away from high-flood-risk areas. NFIP regulations minimize the impact of structures that are built in SFHAs by requiring them not to cause obstructions to the natural flow of floodwaters. Also, as a condi-tion of community participacondi-tion in the NFIP, those structures built within SFHAs must adhere to strict floodplain management regu-lations enforced by the community.
In addition, the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) of 1982 re-lies on the NFIP to discourage building in fragile coastal areas by prohibiting the sale of flood insurance in designated CBRA areas.
While the NFIP does not prohibit property owners from building in these areas, any Federal financial assistance, including federally backed flood insurance, is prohibited. However, the CBRA does not prohibit privately financed development or insurance.
Federal disaster assistance will pay for flood damage.
Before a community is eligible for disaster assis-tance, it must be declared a federal disaster area. Federal disaster assistance declarations are issued in less than 50 percent of flooding events. The premium for an NFIP policy, averaging a little over $400 a year, can be less ex-pensive than the monthly payments on a federal disaster loan. Furthermore, if you are uninsured and receive federal disaster assistance after a flood, you must purchase flood insurance to remain eligible for future disaster relief.
The NFIP does not cover flooding resulting from hurricanes or the overflow of rivers or tidal waters.
The NFIP defines covered flooding as a general and temporary condition during which the surface of nor-mally dry land is partially or completely inundated. Two properties in the area or two or more acres must be affected.
Flooding can be caused by:
• Overflow of inland or tidal waters, or
• Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source, such as heavy rainfall, or
• Mudflow, i.e., a river of liquid and flowing mud on the sur-faces of normally dry land areas, or
• Collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water, resulting from erosion or the effect of waves, or water currents exceeding normal, cyclical levels. For more information about the NFIP, ask your insurance repre-sentative, or call the NFIP’s toll-free number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) x29.
Reducing Loss & Avoiding Injury
Protecting Your Pets
If a serious storm would require evacuation of your property, your pet will need a safe place to stay. Red Cross shelters and most other emergency facilities do not accept animals. But there are several ways in which you can plan ahead and ensure the best possible care for your pet:
Ask friends or family living on high ground about caring for your pet, or ask your veterinarian for the location of the nearest appropriate boarding kennel, veterinary hospital or other pet evacuation center. (Pets under medi-cation should be sheltered at a veterinary hospital.) There are 10 times more pets than pet boarding spaces in Pinellas County, so use a shelter only as a last resort.
Plan an evacuation route to the shelter now, and don’t wait until the last minute to take your pet there. Spaces normally are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so call ahead and determine space availability.
Before accepting your pet, most kennels, animal hospitals and shelters will require proof of vaccinations, ID collar and rabies tag, a carrier or cage large enough for your pet to stand and turn around, a leash, at least two days food supply and bowls, medications, special care instructions and newspapers or plastic trash bags for handling waste.
Standard boarding fees (or hospitalization fees, if required) will be charged. SPCA and Humane Society shelters accept donations. If the pet shelter you select has to be evacuated, animals will be taken either to the SPCA of St. Petersburg or the Humane Society of North Pinellas. Trucks will be available for transportation in certain areas. There will be no home pick-up of pets.
When you bring your pet home, remember that high winds and heavy rain can change familiar scents and landmarks, making it possible for a dog or cat to be confused and become lost if allowed to roam freely. Give your pet time to get its bearings and don’t let it consume food or water that may be contaminated.
City of Largo Community Development Department 6
When the Flood Comes
Safety is the most important consideration. Since flood waters can rise rapidly, you should be prepared to evacuate before the water level reaches your property.
1. Keep a battery-powered radio tuned to a local station, and fol-low all instructions for your area. Be prepared to evacuate. 2. When outside the house, remember that FLOODWATERS
ARE DECEPTIVE. Six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. Avoid flooded roads and do not walk through flood waters.
3. TIP: Remember to store important papers and valuables where they will be protected from water damage.
If, ONLY if, Time Permits...
1. Turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close themain gas valve if evacuation is likely. Do not touch any electrical equipment unless it is in a dry area and you are standing on a piece of dry wood while wearing rubber gloves and rubber-soled boots or shoes.
2. Move valuable papers, furs, jewelry, clothing, etc. to upper floors or higher storage areas.
3. Fill bathtubs, sinks and jugs with clean water in case regular supplies are contaminated. You can sanitize these items by first rinsing them with bleach.
4. Board up windows or protect them with storm shutters. 5. Bring outdoor possessions (lawn furniture, garbage cans,
tools, signs, other moveable objects) inside the house or tie them down securely to prevent them from being blown around or swept away.
If it is Safe to Evacuate by
Car...
1. Stock the car with nonperishable foods (like canned or dried food), a plastic container of water, blankets, first aid kit, flashlights, dry clothing and any special medications needed by your family.
2. Keep the gas tank at least half full, since gasoline pumps will not work if electrical power is out.
3. Do not drive where the water is over the roads. Parts of the road may already be washed out.
4. If your car stalls in a flooded area, abandon it as soon as pos-sible. Flood waters can rise rapidly and sweep a car and its occupants away. Many deaths have resulted from attempts to move stalled vehicles.
5. If you’re caught in your home by rising water, move to the second floor or if necessary, to the roof. Take warm clothing, a flashlight and a portable radio with you. Then wait for help- don’t try to swim to safety. Rescue teams will be looking for you.
After the Flood
• If your home, apartment or business has suffered flood damage, immediately call the agent who handles your flood insurance policy. The agent will submit a flood loss form to the National Flood Insurance Program. An adjuster will be assigned to inspect your property as soon as possible. • Before entering the building, check for structural damage.
Make sure it is not in danger of collapsing. Turn off outside gas lines at the meter or tank. If you smell gas, call your util-ity company immediately.
• When you enter, do not use an open flame as a source of light, since gas may still be trapped inside. Use a battery-powered flashlight.
• Watch for downed electrical wires. Make certain the main power switch for the structure is turned off. Do not turn on lights or appliances until an electrician has check the system for short circuits.
• Watch for animals, especially snakes. Small animals that have been flooded out of their homes may seek shelter in yours. Use a pole or stick to poke around, giving small ani-mals a chance to leave unharmed.
• Look before you step. After a flood, the ground and floors will be covered with debris, like broken bottles and nails. Floors, walkways and stairs that have been covered with mud may be slippery.
• Cover broken windows and holes in the roof or walls to pre-vent further weather damage.
• Proceed with immediate clean-up measures to prevent health hazards. Perishable items pose a health problem and should be listed and photographed before discarding. Throw out fresh food and medicines that may have come into contact with flood waters.
• Water for drinking and food preparation should be used only if the County water system has been declared safe. In an emergency, you may get drinking water by draining a hot water tank or melting ice cubes.
• Carbon monoxide exhaust kills. Use generators or other gasoline-powered equipment outdoors only. The same goes for camping stoves. Fumes from charcoal are especially deadly; use charcoal grills only outdoors.
• Take photographs of the damage to your building and its contents. Refrigerators, sofas and other hard goods should be hosed off and kept for the insurance adjuster’s inspection. Any partially damaged items should be dried and aired; the adjuster will make recommendations as to repair or disposal. • Take all wooden furniture outdoors to dry, but keep it out of
direct sunlight to prevent warping. A garage or carport is a good place for drying. Remove drawers and other moving parts as soon as possible, but do not pry open swollen draw-ers from the front. Instead, remove the backing and push the drawers out.
City of Largo Community Development Department 6
www.Largo.com/comdev | (727) 586-7490
7
• Shovel out mud while it is still moist to give walls and floors a chance to dry. Once plastered walls have dried, brush off loose dirt. Wash with household cleanser and rinse with clean water, starting at the bottom and finishing with the ceil-ing. Pay special attention to cleaning out heating ducts and plumbing systems.
• Remove mildew from dry wood with a solution of 1 cup liquid chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of water.
Retrofitting Options for Buildings
There are several flood protection methods for buildings. It may be feasible to use one of these methods to retrofit your property and reduce its vulnerability to flood damage. Call the City’s Building Official at 586-7488 for advice on flood-proofing or retrofitting your property. The Building Division also maintains a voluntary registry of local contractors licensed in residential and commercial retrofit-ting techniques.
Elevation
This method consists of raising a house on an elevated support structure to place it above future flood waters. The exact method can include a number of possibilities that depend upon local conditions, such as expected flood and wind forces, building type and size, and soil bearing capacity. Evaluation may be considered for all types of homes, including structures built slab-on-grade or over crawl-ways and basements. Types of elevated foundations include:
Elevation on Extended Foundation Walls
The house is elevated and set on walls that have been built up from the original foundation. This method is particularly ap-propriate where the characteristics of flooding involve up to moderate depths with slow velocities, and is commonly used.
Elevation on Piers
This method is employed for shallow flooding with slow to moderate velocities. The house is elevated and set on low founda-tions that are constructed of reinforced masonry block or reinforced concrete.
Elevation on Posts or Columns
This method is used for shallow to moderate flood depths with slow to moderate velocities. The house is set on taller struc-tures, generally made of wood, steel or concrete, set in pre-dug holes and braced together.
Elevation on Pilings
This method is employed where high-velocity water could undermine other structures, such as in coastal high-hazard areas. It is also suitable for deep flood depths or poor soil conditions. The house is set on tall foundation pilings, usually wood, that have been driven into the ground.
Elevation on Fill
This method is limited to areas of low flood depths and low velocities. The house is elevated on compacted soil.
Relocation
Perhaps the only technique for completely preventing future flood damage, this method involves moving a house out of a flood area to a new location where there is no threat of flooding. The technique for moving most any house in good structural condition is well developed. It is generally more expensive and time-consuming than most elevation techniques, but it can be a very feasible method in many cases.
Levees
This method of creating a barrier of compacted solid to keep the water away from a house in areas where flooding is shallow and moderate with low velocity. It can be one of the least expensive techniques, and it can be attractively landscaped. Its construction, however, requires great care, and there must be continued attention and maintenance to prevent its failure.
• Clean metal at once, then wipe with a kerosene-soaked cloth. A light coat of oil will prevent iron from rusting. Scour all utensils.
• Quickly separate all wet clothing to avoid running colors. Let clothing or household fabrics dry slowly, away from direct heat, before brushing off loose dirt. If you cannot get a professional cleaner, rinse the items in lukewarm water to remove lodged soil, then wash with mild detergent, rinse and dry in sunlight.
City of Largo Community Development Department 8
Pinellas County Department of Emergency Management
400 South Fort Harrison Ave. Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 464-3800
Southwest Florida Water Management District
2379 Broad St.
Brooksville, FL 34609-6899
(352) 796-7211 or 1-800-423-1476 (in Florida only)
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region IV
Hazard Mitigation Division 3003 Chamblee-Tucker Road Atlanta, GA 30341
(770) 220-5200
Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
4000 Gateway Centre Blvd. Pinellas Park, FL 33782
(727) 570-5151
Information on the Web
You can obtain a list of the flood-related publications available at the Largo Library. A copy of this document is on the City of Largo’s website at www.largo.com/comdev.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also has information available on the World Wide Web. Information about the National Flood Insurance Program and other FEMA programs can be accessed on the website at http://www.fema.gov or by calling “FEMA FAX” at (202) 646-FEMA. FEMA FAX is a 24-hour service with a voice mail menu that leads the caller through a series of choices and sends a facsimile response to the inquiry.
Floodwalls
This method is sometimes practical for areas with low to moderate flooding depths and velocities. As with levees, floodwalls are designed to keep the water away from a house, but are constructed of materials such as masonry block and reinforced concrete. They are more expensive than levees, but if properly designed, do not require as much concern with continued inspection and maintenance. However, because some designs have openings for access to the house, they often require closures and human presence to make sure they are in place prior to flooding.
Closures
Often used in conjunction with other techniques such as floodwalls and levees, closures involve techniques for protecting gaps that have been left open for day-to-day convenience, such as walks, doors and driveways.
Sealants
Sometimes referred to as “dry flood-proofing,” this method can be used only in areas of very shallow flooding to completely seal a home against water. Because of the tremendous pressure that water can exert against a structure protected by this method, the technique can only be used on brick veneer or masonry construction in good structural condition, and then only when the flood levels cannot exceed two to three feet and flood velocities are negligible.
Utility Protection
Often, very costly damage to utilities such as heating, air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing systems occurs during floods. Simple and relatively low-cost measures can usually prevent damage to these systems, which are essential to the habitability of a residence.
Special Techniques
These are some special flood-proofing techniques used in unusual flooding situations, including retrofitting in alluvial fans, eleva-tion on fill and elevaeleva-tion on reinforced slabs.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
701 San Marco Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32204-8175
(904) 232-2234
ISO Commercial Risk Services, Inc.
6187 Banyan Circle Orange Park, FL 32073
1-800-888-4476
Florida Department of Community Affairs
Division of Emergency Management 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100
(850) 413-9969
Largo Library (Reference Section)
120 Central Park Drive Largo, FL 33770
(727) 587-6715
