FEMA Experts Show Ways To Make Houses More Flood Resistant

Release Date: July 6, 2008
Release Number: 1768-058

» More Information on Wisconsin Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

MADISON, Wis. -- Want to protect your home from the next flood? Talk with FEMA experts now at hardware and home improvement stores in many flood-ravaged Wisconsin communities.

The Community Education Outreach (CEO) program, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is presented in cooperation with local businesses, building supply centers and relief agencies.

"The program is staffed by FEMA personnel with first-hand knowledge of flood effects on structures and the steps that can be taken to minimize future flood damage," said Dolph Diemont, FEMA federal coordinating officer for disaster recovery in Wisconsin. "We encourage everyone to visit one of these sites, including homeowners, building contractors, business owners and architects."

Home ownership is the largest lifetime investment for most residents. Building or rebuilding properly, with the best technical guidance and using tested techniques, will ensure that homes will be more resistant to future storms and flooding.

FEMA mitigation experts will advise on topics such as:

Using water-proofing sealants and paints on basement walls and floors.
Installing check valves to prevent sewer-line backup.
Installing extra sump pumps and uninterruptible sump-pump power supplies.
Elevating basement utilities and appliances to make them less vulnerable to flooding.
Elevating homes above flood level.
Dealing safely with mold and mildew.

Presentations are informal, interactive and designed to appeal to the wide-range of expertise and interests one would expect at a busy home-improvement center. Visitors also can pick up brochures and fact sheets on a variety of mitigation topics and good construction practices and can receive assistance with applications for disaster aid.

FEMA's CEO mitigation experts are located at the following sites: