Property level flood adaptation measures: a novel approach

Abstract

Despite increased investment in flood defences, it is not economically viable to protect all at risk properties from the threat of flooding. This has led to a move towards encouraging property owners to take their own steps in making their homes or businesses less vulnerable to flooding. For example, the UK Government has introduced a grant aid scheme to encourage property level flood protection and has called for the development of new innovative flood approaches and products. Examining the effectiveness of current flood protection products including both resistance and resilience measures, with regard to water ingress, installation cost and acceptance by homeowners, reveals shortcomings with the existing measures. To address this issue, a novel solution is proposed that combines resistance and resilience adapted basement waterproofing, using an internal hollow skirting system (patent protected GB-2449777 and GB-2452423) to address the ingress of floodwaters into properties with solid floors. The method does not attempt to resist floodwaters but manages the water using ways that homeowners can appreciate. It is easy to install and is affordable in line with current grant aid. Furthermore, the new system can be installed in both existing and new build properties and, in doing so, offers complete property flood level protection. It is concluded that the new system may provide a practical solution towards the uptake of property level flood adaptation measures.

Assessing the value of intangible benefits of property level flood risk adaptation (PLFRA) measures

“…Property level flood risk adaptation measures refer to all actions available to homeowners to adapt their properties to flood risk (Joseph et al, 2011b) and involves the process of adjustment of households behaviours to actual or expected flood risk in order to reduce its impacts on households (IPCC, 2012). These include collective process of either keeping water out -resistance measures or allowing the water into the property but reducing the damage caused to the fabric of the property -resilience measures (ABI, 2003, Thurston et al, 2008, Beddoes and Booth, 2011, Wassell et al, 2009, Joseph et al, 2011b, Warren et al, 2011, JBA, 2012, Royal Haskoning, 2012, thereby allowing quick reinstatement of the property after flood water has receded. In addition, property can be adapted to flood risk by relocating expensive items from ground floor to upper floor or by registering for flood alert warning (Walker et al, 2008, Priest et al, 2008.…”

Property level flood protection: technical insights of a new safety flood door

“…Relocation is often impractical and the option of building in areas of low or no flood risk is a planning issue, which must be addressed prior to construction [10,11]. Therefore, it is often the case that homeowners need to deal with flooding issues themselves and are simply left with a choice of several flood resistance and resilience options to protect their homes [12]. Flood resistance involves the construction of a building in such a way as to prevent floodwater entering the property and damaging its fabric [13].…”

Flood Mitigation Data Analytics and Decision Support Framework: Iowa Middle Cedar Watershed Case Study

“…Since flooding cannot be prevented entirely, implementing flood mitigation measures is critical to minimize property-level flood disruption (Beddoes & Booth, 2011). Several studies have shown the reduction of flood damage with mitigation measures.…”