Do you live in an area at risk of flooding?
In a world devastated by climate change, floods are a reality we all must bear with. Water levels will rise and some places will become more susceptible to flooding. Your otherwise dry area may become a flood prone location.
What can you do? You can sell your house and escape to other places but will that really work? Global warming is fast changing the weather like never seen before. Chances are, the new place you run to will also have problems of its own. Running away isn’t the solution to everything. You can instead take steps to protect your house as best as possible in a flooding emergency.
Here are the steps you should take to better equip your house for a flood.
Protect Your Electric Grid
Electrocution is one of the major risks in a flood. The electricity can pass from low lying power sockets and appliances to the flood water. You can very easily get electrocuted. You should check what your area’s flood level is and move accordingly. It is recommended to keep all power sockets and electricity access above the flood level. Maintain that all your appliances can be shifted quickly to above the flood level. Ensure that permanent installations like furnace, heater, and AC are above flood level.
Safeguard Your Plumbing
One of the worst consequences of flooding is that it is not just flood water. Flooding also causes sewage and plumbing lines to back up. This can mean raw sewage backing up in your home and mixing with the standing water. You don’t need us to tell you why that situation is one you want to avoid or how it can become dangerous.
You should install backflow valves or gates which can block the sewage lines in such cases. They are automatically triggered by sewage backing up and block it. You will thank us later when relatively safer flood water is the only worry for you.
Raise Your House Foundations
This is the most drastic of steps to take. Unfortunately, drastic measures may become reality as climate change worsens. If floods become more frequent, people will have to learn to live with them. One way to do this is by raising the foundations of your house. You can raise your house on wooden planks, stilts and other structures some feet above the ground. If you can raise your house to flood level or more, it will become considerably more protected.
This is an expensive measure. It is also highly inconveniencing and drawn out. However, once finished, it can leave your house completely safe and dry from floods.
Shape the Slope of Your Lawn
Landscaping will be required If your lawn is sloped towards the direction of your house. You should hire a professional to channel the gradient of your property away from your house. This won’t allow the flood water to pool around your house; it will instead drain off naturally.
Conclusion
Contact Service Team of Professionals (STOP) if you need any help in repairing flood and water damage. Our experts can also guide and help you in better floodproofing your home.
