Six approaches to preventing damage in future floods:

1. Elevate the building - provides the best on-site protection
2. Stop floodwater in the yard with levees or floodwalls - prevents pressure and debris impacts on your walls
3. Stop floodwater at the wall by sealing the building (this technique is more appropriate for non-residential buildings.
4. Stop sewer backup - you'll need to do this if you use barriers, dry floodproofing or wet floodproofing 
5. Raise appliances and utilities - a wet floodproofing technique.
6. Use finishing materials that water won't hurt.- a wet floodproofing technique

Flood protection videos

These videos were produced in VHS format and converted to digital wave files. The WMV files can be downloaded or played from the web.

• Above the Flood - Video  - details the raising of five slab-on-grade structures in Denham Springs (Livingston parish). Excavation and unified hydraulic jacking were used to raised these 1500-4000 sq ft structures with their slabs. The 20-minute video includes interviews with the property owners before and/or after their structures were raised.
• Above the Flood - Video  


•  Are you Ready for Rain? Floodproofing Tips and Techniques - Video demonstrates the methods of preventing flood damage using permanent and temporary methods and associated techniques. The original VHS is an hour that includes eight separable elements. The eight segments are presented here individually
• Overview - Video         56K       512K
• Permanent Barriers: Floodwalls and Levees - Video  
• Temporary Barriers:  Sandbags and Water Inflatables - Video 
• Dry Floodproofing - Video  (includes temporary wrapping segment)
• Panel Closures - Video 
• Sewer Backflow and Pumps - Video 
• Wet Floodproofing - Video 
• Making an Informed Decision - Video

Print versions

• Elevation Provides the Best Protection for Flood Damage
• Stop Floodwater in the Yard - Floodwalls and Levees
• Using Sandbags for Flood Protection 
• Using Water-Inflated Barriers for Flood Protection
• Stop Floodwater at the Wall - Dry Floodproofing 
• Flood Wraps and Temporary Shields
• Using Panels as Closures for Flood Protection
• Using Pumps in Flood Protection
• Preventing Sewer Backflow with a valve in the common sewer line
• Stopping Sewer Backflow by Blocking Points of Entry
• Stopping Sewer backflow using the Bag-o-Rags Technique
• Wet Floodproofing
• Raise Appliances and Utilities
• Use Finishing Materials that Water Won't Hurt
•  Floodproofing grant programs and flood insurance

Additional resources:

• FEMA Mitigation Library
• Corps of Engineers National Non-Structural Flood Proofing Committee