Flood Water Prevention Methods

3/26/2021 (Permalink)

Flood Water Prevention Methods

Engineers take considerable leaps to stop high water from flooding city streets and neighborhoods. As a business owner, you should take note of what measures Valley Brook, OK, has in the event of a natural disaster or flood.
These are some of the common methods:

Levees are concrete or sand embankments to prevent water overflow.
Dams block water completely, only allowing an area to flood when necessary.
Locks allow ships to move through higher water areas to lower areas.
Dikes are long walls or ditches that prevent the sea from crossing into cities.
Gates can block water when necessary but open and close to permit traffic and water flow.

Unfortunately, none of these methods are perfect. During storm season, don't let your business be caught unawares by high water. You should be ready to reach out to a water damage remediation company as well as familiarize yourself with how your city protects itself.

Unique Barriers
Some cities have devised unique ways to keep floodwaters from entering business and agricultural districts.
The Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier in the Netherlands is designed to open and close completely. When it is open, the water flows freely. As the water rises, the walls close to stop flooding and fill the adjoining pools with excess water. When the flooding recedes, the barriers open again, returning the channel to normal flow.
The barriers on the River Eden in England are a newer solution for flood prevention. They replace traditional sandbags with hydraulic barriers that can be raised or lowered when necessary. The barriers are now computer-controlled to prevent them from accidentally lowering.

Barriers To Protect Your Business
Along with understanding what your city does to protect against a flood, you should also be prepared to protect your business yourself. A dam can be built from sandbags to block water. Retention ponds, like small versions of the Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier's retention pools, and french drains help control pooling water.
When a storm is coming, there are many things you can do to help safeguard your business from high water conditions.