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![]() ![]() Scenic views and the anticipated increase in real estate values continue to place immense strain on the NFIP, natural resources, and life safety. Society continues to move to locations which flooding can reach more easily. Did you know that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates between 19, a population increase of 39% (34.8 million people) has occurred in the United States Shoreline County population (NOAA, 2015). Now I realize a response may be that the number is not real or can’t be computed, but wrapped nicely inside this figure is the need to understand the urgency to change flood risk perception and behavior. 1862 is known as the storm that caused California to go bankrupt? Interestingly, if this event occurred today, the magnitude of this storm due to the increase of infrastructure and development would result in an estimated $725 billion in damage (Ingram, 2013). Turning back the clock a bit into the 19th century, did you know that the "Great Flood of 1862", which mainly impacted land currently encompassing California, Oregon, and Nevada, and to a lesser degree Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico in Dec. Articles are now surfacing as the reform process continues which acknowledge the understanding that the program has been moving forward since 2012, just a bit slower. Oddly, it has been extremely quiet since then, to a point that many believe that flood risk and premiums became a concern not worthy of much attention in the future. That was soon followed by the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act (HFIAA) of 2014, which reversed or slowed the implementation process of portions of BW-12 provisions. We all know the story starts with the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (BW-12). Had it broken-away as designed, there likely wouldn’t have been any damage to the livable area of this building.As an advocate of the National Flood Insurance Program, the last four years have been interesting. A large obstruction can be seen behind the wall, preventing it from breaking-away. The window was smashed and flood waters rushed inside. When this wall failed to break-away, the wave action was deflected upwards. If designed properly, the following photograph shows how a ground floor enclosure with breakaway walls would/should look after a ravaging storm. Wooden lattice will break more readily when struck by floating debris. It won’t break, and will collect a large amount of debris causing the wave action force to be transmitted to the entire building. Plastic lattice is much too durable for below flood applications in type "V" and "Coastal A" flood zones.Exterior siding is extended down to cover breakaway walls.Free from obstructions: If there’s something big installed next to such a wall - freezer, refrigerator, heavy shelving etc, it’ll prevent the wall from breaking-away.Interior finishes makes these walls harder to break-away, and encourage occupancy where prohibited. Inside is finished: Breakaway walls are considered expendable, for the greater good of the building.These walls can’t break-away as designed if pipes and wires will tie them to the building. No utilities can be attached to or through these walls, such as: pipes, electrical wiring etc.Construction / Inspectionīreakaway wall inspections often fail for these reasons: Once these walls break-away, the water rolls back and forth under the building between the columns, exerting very little force upon the building. If these walls didn’t break-away, the forces against them would be transmitted to the entire building, which could cause it to collapse. (V-Zone Certification form.) Purpose of the Walls These breakaway walls must be designed and certified by an Engineer to certain pressure tolerances, so when violent waters hit these walls they break-away from the building. "V" zones are located along or near coastlines, where the "velocity" from breaking waves is considered most destructive, and where building codes have higher standards. However, these areas must have breakaway walls and flood vents. In type "V" and "Coastal A" flood zones, enclosed areas below flood levels may be used to for minimal storage, parking and access to upper levels. ![]()
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