Mitigation

Mitigation is the cornerstone of emergency management. It is the ongoing efforts to lessen the impact disasters have on people and property. Mitigation involves keeping homes away from floodplains, engineering bridges to withstand earthquakes, creating and enforcing effective building codes to protect property from hurricanes—and more.

The Mitigation Division at FEMA is the organization responsible for working with communities to encourage them to adopt and enforce ordinances that meet or exceed the minimum floodplain management requirements of the NFIP.

In response to the unacceptable loss of life and property from recent disasters, and the prospect of even greater catastrophic loss in the future, the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires states and communities to develop a conceptual framework to reduce these losses.

For assistance from MSD, call these numbers:

Ways to Mitigate

When Property Is Substantially Damaged….Floodproof, Relocate, Elevate or Demolish (FRED)
Millions of people across the United States live in floodplains.  Floods are the most common natural disaster.  In 2006, floods accounted for more than $617.6 million in NFIP-insured losses and millions more in uninsured damage.  Unfortunately, some of this flood damage occurs to buildings previously repaired only to be flooded again.  NFIP policies include Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage designed to mitigate a portion of substantially damaged properties.

Increased Cost of Compliance Coverage
ICC coverage was added to the NFIP Standard Flood Insurance Policy in 1997.  In 2003, limits of this coverage were increased to $30,000 paid in addition to the flood insurance claim.  ICC funds can be used only to floodproof, relocate, elevate, or demolish (FRED) a damaged building to bring it into compliance with local floodplain regulations.  Buildings mitigated with the FRED options permitted under ICC coverage must be located in a floodplain and must have an NFIP flood insurance policy in effect at the time of the loss.  In addition, the structure must be determined to have substantial damage—that is, damage of 50 percent or more of the pre-flood market value of the building—or must be identified as an NFIP repetitive loss property.

All insurable buildings in NFIP communities have ICC coverage except structures insured under the Group Flood Insurance Policy, units insured under a condominium unit owner policy, and buildings located in communities participating in the Emergency Phase of the Program.

Floodproof
The ICC option of floodproofing is available primarily for non-residential buildings.  Dry floodproofing seals a building by coating its walls with waterproofing compounds or impermeable sheeting.  Openings such as doors, windows, sewer lines, and vents are blocked off with permanent closures or removable shields, sandbags, valves, or other barriers.

A professional engineer should be consulted when considering use of dry floodproofing because hydrostatic pressure (the pressure imposed by standing water) could cause a sealed structure to collapse under high water levels.  Consequently, dry floodproofing is not appropriate where floodwaters are expected to be more than 3 feet deep.  This form of mitigation is also not suitable for buildings with crawl spaces or basements because water can seep under the structure through these sites.

Wet floodproofing is often used when dry floodproofing is either not possible or too expensive.  This form of protection can be employed on structures with basements.  Wet floodproofing modifies a building to allow floodwaters inside while ensuring minimal damage to the structure and contents.  To use this form of mitigation, there must be an area available above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) where damageable items can be relocated or temporarily stored.  Additionally, utilities and furnaces must either be protected or relocated to an area above the BFE.

There are three main components to wet floodproofing a structure: design elements (such as openings in foundation walls and other construction techniques), flood‑resistant materials (such as impervious construction materials and insulation), and protection of contents (by elevating mechanical, electrical, and HVAC systems or placing them in waterproof containers).  As with the application of dry floodproofing techniques, developing a wet floodproofing strategy requires site-specific evaluations, which may involve the services of a design professional.

Additional information about floodproofing is available in two FEMA publications: Floodproofing for Non-Residential Structures and Technical Bulletin 7-93: Wet Floodproofing Requirements for Structures Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas.  Both publications are available from the online FEMA Library, or by contacting the FEMA Distribution Center at 1-800-480-2520 or at the kiosk in MSD’s lobby.

Relocate
Relocating floodprone structures to higher ground is one of the safest ways to protect against flooding and reduce the liability and cost to the community.  Although relocation can be expensive initially, in the long run moving can be less costly than paying for repetitive flood damages or high flood insurance premiums.  In addition, relocating buildings to areas with reduced flood risk allows floodprone property to be used for open space, wetlands, or recreation.

Elevate
One of the most common ICC retrofitting methods is to elevate a building above the expected flood level.  When a house is properly elevated, the living area will be above all but the most severe floods.  Elevation to or above the BFE allows a substantially damaged or substantially improved house to be brought into compliance with the floodplain management ordinance or law adopted by the community.

A building can be raised above the BFE by placing it on a crawlspace or compacted fill, or by elevating it on piles or piers.  The elevation method used is dependent on the condition of the structure, the source of flood hazard putting the building at risk, local floodplain regulations, and the owner’s financial resources.  By raising a building so its lowest habitable floor is above the BFE, not only is this structure protected from floodwaters, but the owner can add parking and (limited) storage space beneath the building.

FEMA has approved three techniques for elevating buildings.  Property owners may extend the walls of the building upward and raise the lowest habitable floor; convert the existing lower area of the house to non-habitable space, and build a new second story for living space; or lift the entire house (with the floor slab attached) and build a new, elevated foundation for the building.

When elevating, it is essential for all utilities (air conditioner, water heater, furnace, etc.) to be elevated at or above the BFE.  After a building is elevated, the need to move vulnerable contents to areas above the water level during flooding is eliminated, except where a lower floor is used for storage.

Additional information about elevating buildings is available online in Above the Flood: Elevating your Flood Prone House or by contacting the FEMA Distribution Center at 1-800-480-2520 and requesting FEMA Document 347.

Demolish
By covering the costs for demolition and debris removal of lost buildings insured by the NFIP, ICC allows residents to move permanently out of harm's way.  Buyout and demolition is voluntary, and the homeowner receives the fair market value of the home before the disaster struck.  Under a FEMA buyout agreement, the structure is removed and the city maintains the land as open space.  In many cases, after the acquired building has been demolished, the land has been flooded again.

How to Start the FRED Process
FRED options become available after an ICC claim is filed, and this can only happen if the community determines a home or business has been substantially damaged or repetitively damaged by flood.  This determination is made when the property owner applies for a building permit to begin repairing the home or business.  An ICC claim is adjusted separately from the flood damage claim filed under the Standard Flood Insurance Policy.

If the community determines the home or business is substantially or repetitively damaged, a local official will explain to the property owner which of the floodplain management ordinance provisions must be met.  It is advisable for the property owner to consult with the local official before deciding which option to pursue.

When the community has made the determination of ICC eligibility, the property owner contacts the insurance company or agent who wrote the flood policy to file an ICC claim.  The insurer will assign a claims representative to help the policyholder file the ICC claim.  At this time, the property owner can obtain contractor estimates for floodproofing, relocating, elevating, or demolishing.

Additional Information
See the Increased Cost of Compliance Coverage: How You Can Benefit brochure on the FEMA website for an overview of this coverage.  Additional information, including questions and answers, is available in the Increased Cost of Compliance section of the NFIP Adjuster Claims Manual.

Flood Mitigation Actions Checklist

Protecting Your Home From Future Flood Damage

You can reduce the risk of future flood damage to your property by taking common-sense steps when making repairs to your home or property. These steps are known as hazard mitigation. Mitigation techniques can be designed for your home to minimize the effects of floodwaters on your property and your family.

Many Mitigation Measures Are Low-Cost

Mitigation measures don't have to be expensive. There are low-cost measures you can take to reduce your risk from future flooding.

Heating and hot-water systems, washers, and dryers can be elevated on a platform at least 12 inches above the flood level. Electrical panels and utilities also should be relocated to an area above the flood level. If the space is not high enough to allow elevation of the utility, the utility may be moved to an upper floor or attic space.

Other measures include building a floodwall around basement windows to protect the basement from low-level flooding and anchoring fuel tanks to prevent them from floating and over-turning.

Before any alterations or repairs are made, contact MSD to obtain a floodplain permits