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September 3, 2024

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Historic Floods Batter Louisiana

In August of this year, the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy struck, and the state of Louisiana was hit hard. The disaster was brought on by powerful rains that seemingly would not quit, and when it finally did let up, some areas had recorded as much as 31″ of precipitation. Many waterways, including major rivers, hit levels they had never before reached in all the years that records have been kept. Thousands of homes and businesses were underwater, and at least 13 deaths were reported. More than 30,000 people were evacuated, with heroic rescues and narrow escapes throughout the duration of the storm. It was a catastrophe in every sense of the word.

Although the storm that caused this disaster did not have a name, it was right up there alongside Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy in terms of damage and sheer volume of water. The storm dumped about three times as much water in Louisiana as had Hurricane Katrina; up to 6,900,000,000,000 gallons of water! That is enough water to fill the infamous lake Pontchartrain four times. All that water quickly overcame flood defenses, storm drains, and berms, and coursed straight through towns and even major cities like Baton Rouge, with a power that had never been seen before.

Port Vincent, Lousiana, after August 2016 flooding. Source: NOAA

Adding to the devastation of the actual flooding is the devastation of the aftermath. Many of these submerged homes and businesses in Louisiana are located in high-risk areas where flood insurance is either not available at all or completely unaffordable. Another unfortunate situation is that many of the destroyed buildings were located in areas deemed safe from flooding; these properties were not insured because they had been considered out of harm’s way! In one of the worst-hit parishes, fewer than 1% of the property owners had current flood insurance. As a result, many people across that state are cleaning up homes that are simply not salvageable-and since they are uninsured, not replaceable. Tens of thousands of people have lost everything- all their worldly possessions have been simply swept off the map, with no hope of replacement.

As the water receded and people attempted to get on with their lives, there were indications that this disaster will have very long-term repercussions throughout the social fabric of the affected areas. While the number of people in emergency shelters registered in the tens of thousands during the storm, there remain many thousands of people still in shelters more than a full month after the storm. Schools are very far from recovery, due in part to direct damage to the facilities, hardship affecting the school staff members, and a diaspora of students that leaves some schools grossly attended and others over-crowded. With thousands of families living in rural zones that are struggling with muddied and rutted dirt roads, bridges that are washed out or possibly compromised, with a large number of people still clinging to homes that are not habitable- going back to school may not be at the top of the list of family worries.

The storm of August 2016 did not receive nearly the same level of national media coverage as Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina, but from all indications it was just as devastating to property and infrastructure. It will be many years before Louisiana fully recovers from this disaster, and many families will never fully recover at all.

Source:: FloodBarrierUSA

NWS Issues First Storm Surge Warning

A man is standing in the middle of a flooded area in the ocean

In August, the National Weather Service issued its first-ever storm surge warning for parts of the Florida Gulf coast in advance of a tropical storm. Storm surge is caused when strong winds push surface water to the shoreline where it can cause tremendous destruction and risk to life. More than 180 deaths were attributed to storm surge from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The NWS storm surge early warning/watch system is expected to be fully operational in 2017. Read more here:

The National Weather Service just issued its first storm surge warning

NPR: Outdated FEMA Flood Maps Don’t Account For Climate Change

A diagram of a flood level including a property elevated building

FEMA flood maps may not account for historic rainfall due to climate change, according to an article in NPR. Recent flood events in Louisiana, where 1/3 of the flooding was outside the flood plain, add proof to claims by climate scientists that climate change is creating stronger, more intense storms. “The federal government’s latest National Climate Assessment notes that average precipitation is up overall in the U.S., and points to particularly intense rainfall events in the Midwest and East.”

FEMA is now required by a White House executive order to factor climate change into its flood analyses, however this action does little to change existing flood maps updated every five years. Read more here:

NPR: Outdated FEMA Flood Maps Don’t Account For Climate Change

Minor Floods Increase Greatly over 50 Years

All along the coasts of the USA, a new phenomenon has been recorded over the past half century. We all know that catastrophic floods have been increasing in both frequency and scope. But now it seems that minor floods are increasing as well. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) has recently released a report that highlights the increase of small floods that cause inconvenience; by flooding roads, homes, and businesses … but without loss of life or ‘major damage’.

We all know that what is called ‘major damage’ by the NOAA can nevertheless be major headache and repair bills for those affected. But the NOAA report tells us that this “inconvenient flooding” is on the increase due to human activity and global warming. With no possibility of turning back the earth’s clock, these flooding incidents will become more and more commonplace for those living close to seas, bays, and rivers.

Margaret Davidson of the NOAA commiserated with those likely to be affected. “It’s the stuff that keeps you from conducting your business or picking up your kids from school,” Davidson said. “It is clear that changing climate and weather patterns will cause us to be increasingly inconvenienced and challenged in our everyday lives.”

The increase in the frequency of these minor flood events is anything but minor. Fifty years ago, the affected areas averaged 2.5 minor floods annually. Today, there are 14 minor flood events each year. Some areas fared even worse. Annapolis, Maryland went from 3.6 to almost 40 flooding events a year. During the same period, sea level in the Annapolis area rose by almost eight inches!

The coastal sites that were studied by the NOAA as part of this report are located on both sides of the USA — from La Jolla, California to Baltimore, Maryland. Communities that border the Gulf of Mexico are also affected. The worst-hit zone appears to be the Mid-Atlantic region, which happens to be very densely populated. Scientists predict that residents in this region will be increasingly flooded in the coming decades.

Although it is not always possible to pack up and move away from threats of this nature, there is much that can be done to protect one’s homesite or place of business. Flood panels, berms and other flood barriers, and even landscaping can be installed to ameliorate the impact of minor — and major — floods. As scientists look forward to the coming decades, there is little to indicate that flooding incidents will peak and then begin to decrease. Even the most optimistic outlooks predicts a rapid increase in coastal flooding is in the future.

Please click here to view the full NOAA Report as a PDF document.

Source:: FloodBarrierUSA

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Mega Flood Log System Far Exceeds Industry Testing Standard

February 13, 2025

Mount Royal, N.J—Engineers, architects and contractors can rest assured that Floodproofing.com has a selection of products that meet and exceed the forthcoming American Society of Civil Engineers/Structural Engineering Institute (ASCE/SEI) 24-24 standards for flood-resistant design and construction. Now the international leader in flood mitigation products has another engineered and tested product that exceeds these new standards for buildings in FEMA flood zones. Floodproofing.com recently conducted third-party testing of its Flood Panel Mega Flood Log System following hydrostatic and impact performance standards of the American National Standard for Flood Mitigation Equipment known as ANSI/FM 2510. According to the new ASCE/SEI 24-24 standards, all flood barriers must be tested and certified to meet the applicable requirements of ANSI/FM 2510. Manufactured at the company’s Jupiter, Florida-based Flood Panel facility, the Mega Flood Log System underwent seepage and impact testing in two configurations 12 feet wide by 5 feet high, and 5 feet wide by 8 feet high. The system was tested in a water tank filled to 10 percent capacity for one hour and 100 percent capacity for 20 hours. The ANSI/FM 2510 test limit for seepage is 0.08 gallons per hour per linear foot of seal – about 10.2 ounces. The Mega Flood Log System tested at 0.01 gallons per hour – about 1.3 ounces, far exceeding the standard. Even after impact testing with a 110 lb. wooden log smashing into the assembled system, Mega Flood Logs showed no additional seepage when retested. “With the more stringent requirements of ASCE/SEI 24-24 about to go into effect, the design and build industry needs assurance that the flood mitigation products and solutions they incorporate are professionally engineered and thoroughly tested,” said Floodproofing.com President and CEO Tom Little, CFM. “We follow a very high standard of excellence for our products, and we are proud of the testing results of the Mega Flood Log System.” Designed to be highly resistant to heavy impact forces and withstand high-velocity water loads typical of flash floods and hurricanes, the Mega Flood Log System is an in-demand flood mitigation solution with hundreds of successful installations and deployments at commercial properties and critical infrastructure facilities. The innovative design makes it easy to install and quick to deploy. The Mega Flood Log System offers the following benefits: Easy Assembly: Offers the lowest reaction times of flood control systems on the market and can be assembled by just one or two people. C-Shaped Support Posts: The system comprises a series of “C” shaped support posts and hollow aluminum beams that anchor the flood barrier system. These beams stack on each other with a tongue and groove connection. The bottom beam of each span is fitted with a large rubber seal that makes contact with the surface achieving a watertight seal. The support posts that attach to the building structure can be installed on a removable basis, minimizing the aesthetic impact on the building. Easy Deployment and Storage: Twelve-inch-high logs cut the deployment time and allow for more efficient, easy storage. Modular System: A modular, stackable system makes it easy to install in specific flood-prone areas, including window openings, across doors and storefronts, as well as an entire perimeter defense against flooding. Because of its modular design, it can run the length of any sized structure. Custom Designs Available: Our team designs custom solutions to fit unique building specifications. About Floodproofing.com Floodproofing.com is the go-to resource for all things related to flood risk and resiliency. We manufacture and supply the largest selection of innovative solutions under one roof and provide complimentary floodproofing design and turnkey assessments that present the best options to mitigate flood damage, improve recovery time, and lower liability risk. In addition, the Floodproofing.com team has spent many years studying the science of flood mitigation and is certified to instruct and provide learning credits to all professionals affiliated with the design-build industry. Also, our in-house insurance agency, Risk Reduction Plus Group, provides NFIP and private flood insurance options with the lowest possible premiums for at-risk communities. For more information, visit Floodproofing.com.