Flood Damage control using Flood Vents Slidell, LA – Hurricane Katrina (2005) moved four feet of water into Bruce Colby’s garage and one foot of water into his home in Slidell, Louisiana. Mr. Colby’s garage doors are intact and the overall home is structurally sound. His neighbors, however, will have to replace their entire garages because of structural damage. The difference between Mr. Colby’s and his neighbors’ homes is that he installed three International Code Council (ICC)-evaluated Smart VENT Foundation Flood Vents prior to Katrina. Mr. Colby installed the Smart VENTs in order to reduce his flood insurance premium; that financial decision resulted in the physical protection of his property during the hurricane. “My insurance agent told me to get flood vents and so I did an [internet] search,” Colby explained. He chose Smart VENT which is certified by the ICC, which ensures that the vent has been rigorously tested for performance under flood conditions, including debris-filled flood waters that could clog ordinary vents. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires flood vents for residential basements, crawl spaces, garages, and other enclosed structures that are below the Base Flood Elevation in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). SFHAs are at high-risk of flooding and subject to inundation by the base flood, which is the flood that has a one-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. Much different than air vents, flood vents are specifically designed to open during flooding to allow the free flow of water through the structure. Normally these vents are closed so that animals, debris, and moisture are kept out. Some models are sealed, allowing for conditioned space in the interior. Other models are temperature-sensitive, opening during hot weather to allow air circulation. Flood vents are critical because if water cannot equalize quickly enough, pressure from the flood water can blow out doors and windows, magnifying the damages from the flood. Often, pressure from flood waters that are not properly vented will compromise the entire structure, rendering the home uninhabitable. Proper flood venting may help prevent such substantial loss. Because he installed Smart VENTs, Mr. Colby saves $700 per year in flood insurance, and he only paid a total of $600 for three flood vents. The fact that his garage survived and his home is structurally sound following Katrina underscores the real value of proper flood venting. Four feet of floodwater flowed through Mr. Colby’s garage without causing structural damage. He is pleased with his decision to install flood vents: “I don’t know anyone [else] who has a flood vent. No one around here knew what they were. I guess it will all change now.” Posted on 11/18/2008 3:42:28 PM Add a Comment

Congress May Force Homeowners Behind Dams To Buy Flood Insurance Jul. 11--WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers are moving forward with legislation that could force homeowners who live behind levees and dams to buy flood insurance from the federal government. The proposal is part of a major overhaul being debated in Congress of a federal flood insurance program that gives homeowners access to affordable flood coverage. Click here for the full article Posted on 7/11/2008 10:29:59 AM Add a Comment

Flood victims invited to ‘Flood Grief Counseling Seminar’ TERRE HAUTE — Emotional help for flood victims is available today from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at a “Flood Grief Counseling Seminar” provided by Cummins Behavioral Health Systems Inc. in the United Methodist Temple. Click here for the whole story Posted on 7/10/2008 9:12:29 PM Add a Comment

Cedar Rapids flood costs tops $1 billion CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The estimated cost of last month’s historic flooding in Cedar Rapids now stands at over $1 billion — and counting. Read the whole story here. Posted on 7/10/2008 2:28:43 PM 1 Comment