This tsunami above is from Japan in 2011 Flooding can be caused in a number of ways, but one of the more extreme yet uncommon ways is from tsunamis. A tsunami is a series of waves caused by underwater volcanic explosions and earthquakes. These waves, however, are much bigger and more powerful than regular waves. The waves tend to be between 10-100 feet tall, and travel … Continue reading VIDEO: Tsunami Flooding
Throughout time, society has become more and more industrialized, and global warming has really started to make an impact on our environment. As the effects of global warming are starting to be seen around the world, one aspect of our environment that is going to change are natural disasters, or more specifically flooding. One thing that long term climate change does is make for more … Continue reading Is Global Warming Making Flooding Worse?
There are a few different types of floods, and one of the most dangerous variations is the flash floods. Flash floods are when there is an overflow of water onto dry land caused by heavy and excessive rain fall in a short period of time. What makes these floods so dangerous is a lot of the time you can’t really prepare for them since they … Continue reading The Danger of Flash Floods
On Wednesday, September 20, 2018, Hurricane Maria slammed into the island of Puerto Rico. This was the strongest hurricane to strike the island in over 80 years. Hurricane Maria left near apocalyptic conditions in its wake: toppled power lines, extensive flooding, and utter devastation to so many homes and structures. Even basic necessities such as fresh water, fuel and phone service have been interrupted, resulting … Continue reading Puerto Rico Receives Help from NYC First Responders After Hurricane Maria
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END – Fortunately, so do house renovation projects. Just over a year ago this blog was initiated as a means to document our house elevation for flood mitigation project. It was also designed to assist anyone with similar flooding woes with some options and an accurate portrayal of all that is involved in an undertaking of this magnitude. “Whatever … Continue reading House Elevation Project Completed
SAND VS. MUD: With 16,000 homes impacted by the historic flooding that occurred in Boulder, Colorado last week, many people are facing a mountain of clean up. Unlike Hurricane Sandy that decimated the eastern coastline last fall, dumping tons of sand in the streets, the flooding in Colorado brought mud – and lots of it. WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS (AND STRANGERS): Coming … Continue reading Mountains of Mud in Boulder, Colorado
On the heels of extensive flash flooding occurring in parts of Boulder, Colorado today, I wanted to offer some useful tips to those facing basement flooding. As someone who has dealt with this issue on numerous occasions, and much worse (hey, that’s why we’re elevating our house), I’ve learned a few things. *if your house has endured flooding higher than your basement, you’ve come to the … Continue reading Top 7 Tips to Handle Basement Flooding
FREAK STORM: Boulder, Colorado awoke to extensive flash flooding this morning, brought on my overnight heavy rainfall amounts. Everyone understands and appreciates the damage that a wild coastal storm can bring to an area, but even landlocked states endure flooding concerns. The combination of too much water + too short a period of time = flooding. Every time. FLOOD WATER VS. GROUND WATER: There is … Continue reading Flash Floods in Boulder, Colorado
WEEK 13: Earlier this week I spoke with Rick Lord, Chief of Mitigation Programs & Agency Preservation Officer for the New York State Office of Emergency Management. I had contacted him in hopes of securing some of the $230 million dollars FEMA had given to the state of New York for flood mitigation. Lord is the head of the program in charge of distributing the money statewide. … Continue reading The Lord has Spoken: Giving Away Millions of Dollars
NEW FLOOD TECHNOLOGY In a recent post I commented on the flood prevention technology being utilized in the subway stations of Nagoya, Japan. The floodgates are designed to protect the subway system from suffering extensive damages during a flood event. However, my contention is that any preventative measure that requires human activation and /or electricity to operate, suffers a potentially fatal flaw. What if the … Continue reading More Flood Proofing Options
WEEK NINE A big disappointment – that sums up week nine of our house elevation project. The lifting company, Payne, was ready to return to the site, but the construction crew did not have the site sufficiently prepped. As Payne is jamming with business, they did not have the luxury of time to sit around and wait. They moved on to their next job in … Continue reading House Elevation Project Runs Amok
WEEK 8 Most of the work occurring on our house elevation project this week are of the unseen nitty-gritty sort. The construction crew is preparing for the return of Payne, our lifting company, by completing the last few foundation projects: aligning the proper height all walls, erecting support beams under the crawl space in the rear of our house, fortifying the cinder blocks, and beginning … Continue reading House Elevation: Can You Still Have A Basement in a Floodplain?
WET FLOOD PROOFING: This is generally the least expensive floodproofing technique, but it’s also the least effective in the long term. The strategies here result in a home still suffering through a flood, but strive to decrease the damage to the home and your contents. Permanent or contingent measures applied to a structure and/or its contents that prevent or provide resistance to damage from flooding … Continue reading Wet Flood Proofing: an Oxymoron?
FLOOD SAVVY: Fight Flooding - Tips & Inspiration 