Elevating Your Home
One of the most common retrofitting methods is elevating a house to a required or desired Flood Protection Elevation (FPE). When a house is properly elevated, the living area will be above all but the most severe floods (such as the 500 year flood). Communities may apply to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for funding for elevation projects.
In addition to a greater peace of mind, advantages to elevating include the following:
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Elevation to or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) allows a substantially damaged or substantially improved house to be brought into compliance with your community's floodplain management ordinance or law. (The Base Flood is a flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year)
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Elevation reduces the flood risk to the house and its contents.
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Except where a lower floor is used for storage, elevation eliminates the need to move vulnerable contents to areas above the water level during flooding.
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Elevation techniques are well known, and qualified contractors are often readily available.
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Elevation reduces the physical, financial, and emotional strain that accompanies floods.
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Elevation provides homeowners with additional parking and storage space within their home.
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Elevation often reduces flood insurance premiums.
Additional Resources
FEMA has produced several publications to help builders, code officials, and homeowners understand the benefits and techniques of elevation.
FEMA 347 Above the Flood: Elevating Your Flood Prone House
FEMA 312 Homeowner's Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your House From Flooding
Last Modified: Thursday, 07-Dec-2006 10:28:47 EST