How To Determine Your Flood Mitigation Risk Tolerance

In recent years, the United States has experienced a rapidly increasing number of flooding disasters. These devastating storms cause severe economic damage to facilities and local communities. With severe consequences of frequent and intense flooding, facility owners need to think about their tolerable levels of risk.

Determine The Type Of Flooding Event

  • Speak with a flood specialist to understand what stormwater risks are present in your area.
  • The most common forms of flooding in the United States are flash and coastal floods.
  • Flash floods are triggered by heavy rains, street flooding, hurricanes, and tropical storms.
  • Coastal floods are triggered by storm surges, high/moon tides, and strong storms.

Identify Advanced Storm Notice

  • A flood mitigation expert can help you determine how much time you have to prepare.
  • Coastal floods, like hurricanes and tropical storms, are easier to predict.
  • You may receive notice multiple days in advance.
  • Flash floods are harder to anticipate. You may have limited notice before a storm strikes.

Analyze Staff Levels

  • Facilities with sufficient staff have more flood risk mitigation options.
  • They have the manpower to manually deploy devices prior to a storm.
  • Facilities without employees may need automatic or passive devices like flood doors for commercial buildings.
  • These can be deployed automatically without human involvement.

Calculate Property Value

  • Properties with a lower market value can accept a higher flood risk tolerance.
  • More expensive facilities need to invest heavily in flood mitigation devices to protect their property value.
  • Property valuation helps you determine which active and passive flood devices will work best.
  • Use online resources, appraisals, and flood maps to accurately calculate value.

Consider Facility Use

  • Some critical facilities require 24/7, uninterrupted operations.
  • They cannot afford the downtime caused by flooding.
  • These facilities have an incredibly low risk tolerance.
  • Less used infrastructure may be able to remain closed longer before and after a flood event.

Calculate Flood Risk Tolerance

  • Think about your individual flooding event.
  • Factor in your property location, value, and primary use.
  • Evaluate your personal ability to cope with risk.
  • Do not procrastinate and have your property fall victim to the next flood event.
  • A comprehensive plan takes time to develop and execute.
  • If your facility has a low risk tolerance, prioritize passive devices like automatic flood gates.

There are several steps to accurately determine flood risk tolerance. First off, speak with an expert specialist to determine your specific kind of flash or coastal flooding event. With these insights, you can begin to identify advanced storm notice — or how much time you will have to prepare when a storm strikes. You should additionally carefully analyze staff levels. Buildings with additional manpower have far more options for flood mitigation. At this point, it is time to calculate the value of your commercial, residential, hospital, or critical infrastructure property. Follow the points above to learn about calculating risk tolerance and creating a comprehensive flood mitigation plan.

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