Life According To Dean: Flood Prevention Methods

English: Liberty, KY, June 3, 2010 -- The water line caused by flooding of the Green River is still visible inside this home a month later. FEMA is assisting the Commonwealth and local governments affected by the flooding in early May with recovery efforts. Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Floods can be devastating to your home and also very dangerous to you and your family. People and animals can be seriously injured and repairs to water damaged property can get very expensive. A lot of the time, home insurance does not actually cover flood damages, separate flooding insurance is required. This can be very expensive, especially in areas of a high flood risk. That's why it is a good idea to put some preventative measures in place.

There are a number of flood protection options available to you which can at least limit, if not prevent water damage in the case of flooding. One of the options available are flood barriers which will slow or even stop water from flowing into your property and potentially damaging your furnishings, floor coverings and the actual structural integrity of the building. The two main types of flood barriers which are commonly used are concrete walls or earthen berm. Berm is the most common of the two, but is only suitable for an area 6 feet in width and a minimum of a foot tall, otherwise a concrete wall would need to be used.

It is also possible to waterproof your home, making certain that it is totally watertight. In areas where flood risks are higher, new buildings tend to be constructed with waterproof materials and the windows and doors are specially reinforced to keep uninvited waters out. Wherever there are gaps where water could creep in, for example under doors, sand bags can be used as a sort of temporary or mobile flood barrier. The sand can soak up the water and push it away from the property.

Basement flooding is particularly common in residential homes, largely caused by cracks in basement walls and foundations. These cracks can be much more difficult to spot than in other locations around the home, especially if you do not use your basement very often. Cracks can be caused by previous water damage, or freezing weather conditions. Once detected these cracks can be filled with water resistant material.

Prevention is key to reducing the level of water damage that occurs during a flood and is well worth investing time in.