Experienced preppers, off-gridders and homesteaders want to protect their hard work, crops, livestock, and other possessions. Torrential storms and unexpected severe weather are becoming more common, so flood preparation should be on the priority list regardless of location. The process involves physical, mental and practical steps, but it starts with a foundational awareness of where and what makes flooding so dangerous for homesteads.
Understanding Flood Risks
Discover the areas of the property most susceptible to water damage and how to quantify its risk level.
Areas Most Prone to Flooding
When it comes to the home, the roof, basement, siding and yard are the sections most prone to water damage. Defending each area requires unique strategies, but they fall under common umbrellas.
First, check for leaks, holes, cracks and entry points for moisture everywhere. These openings let water flow into the house, and invite mold growth and condensation that will reduce structural integrity.
Next, research each region’s drainage infrastructure. Does the basement have a sump pump? Does the roof have gutters? These questions reveal items worth adding to a renovation checklist.
Types of Flooding
Floods can happen from more places than a heavy rainstorm, and they’re not exclusive to warmer climates and geographies. Harsh winter freezes can incite flooding due to ice and snowmelt. What are the other flood types to know?
- Coastal: Starts with high tides and winds, which leads to storm surges
- Riverine: Caused by overflowing rivers
- Inland: Begins as a gradual accumulation over days until it becomes unmanageable
- Flash: Happens when overwhelming rain falls in a short period
Assessing the Property’s Flood Risk
The Federal Emergency Management Agency created the Flood Map Service Center tool to show the most at-risk regions based on latitude and longitude. It looks at historical data compared to modern trends to reveal how in danger a plot is by designating it in a zone:
- A and V: 1% chance of flooding every century
- B and X: 0.2% chance of flooding every 500 years
- D: Has an unknown flood risk
For questions about flood frequency, insurance is a reliable indicator. If rates are high in the region, floods are likely projected to hit.
Designing Your Homestead to Mitigate Flood Damage
Knowing where the homestead stands within these risk demographics is crucial for determining the most productive actions to build defenses. Don’t underestimate standing water because most homes receive pivotal damage within 18 inches or less of flooding. It could include one, some or all of these options.
Elevating Structures
Base flood elevation (BFE) is a critical metric for deciding how high to place structures. The value equals the predicted height water will reach during a 100-year flood. This is why knowing risk zones is important — using them will reveal BFE. Homesteaders can use stilts or pier foundations to put homes and utilities above the BFE.
Improving Drainage Systems
One method for natural drainage is land grading. Lawns should tilt away from the home so water doesn’t pool underneath it. Supplement grading with materials like clay to make it substantial.
Houses don’t need to be on a steep hill — a slight slope lets gravity direct water away. This could include French drains, which are rocky, trenched areas that move water away from the flood-prone land via pipes.
The home should also have gutters, potentially attached to rainwater barrels for harvesting. It simply provides another avenue for storage.
Homesteaders should also apply sealants to as many drainage systems and pipes as possible to reinforce everything against natural pressures and degradation. Use them on non-drainage infrastructure like foundations and windows, as well.
Increasing Water Retention
Several fixtures can level up the homestead’s water retention. The first option is a green roof. Planting greenery on the roof makes it a natural carbon and water sink, preventing pools from seeping into the structure and going into plants instead.
Rain gardens are depressions containing various native plants, including shrubs and perennials. These divots collect water from the hard, flat surfaces above and pool them in a productive place. Retention ponds perform a similar function.
Strengthening Infrastructure
Some utilities and strategies make the house and other structures even stronger. Sump pumps are the most apparent choice. They’re almost a necessity for crawl spaces and basements because they take water that makes it inside to a safe external location.
Foundation vents are a similar alternative if the homestead doesn’t want something that relies on electricity in case the storm cuts off power. However, strengthening flood prevention infrastructure may also include having a generator to power machinery. With this consideration, electrical outlets, panels and related equipment should also be elevated to be useful in case of flooding.
Plumbing should also have failsafes if water comes pouring throughout the home. Check and backflow valves are invaluable because they notify residents if the sewage system backs up. They prevent the worst-case scenario of blackwater entering an already flooded area.
Landscaping for Flood Resilience
Landscaping plays a larger role than most assume in flood prevention. Simple strategies include adding mulch near the siding, but they can be more complex and involved. What else is available?
Berms and Swales
Terracing with berms and swales — particularly with vegetation — involves creating small troughs and hills. They sometimes connect to gutters that move water to a specific depository, such as a well or river. Incorporating other plants protects the area with an even stronger organic barrier.
Riparian Buffers
If off-gridders live near bodies of water like streams or lakes, riparian buffers strengthen banks. These long strings of vegetation act as natural walls against flooding. They also reinforce the banks, making them less susceptible to erosion from heavy rains. These are a win-win for waterways, too, because the plants filter pollutants and promote biodiversity.
Damming and Retaining Walls
Dams and retaining walls look downstream to try and slow raging waters. When the flow is calmer, it causes less damage to the Earth. This is crucial because the more soil and sediment it moves, the greater its impact further down water channels and into homesteads.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Shoring up against floods requires physical equipment and land preparation. But what about peace of mind and personal health?
Creating a Flood Emergency Plan
What will everyone on the property do if a flood begins? An emergency planning document answers these questions and must be as specific as possible. It should contain explicit directions and be accessible from anywhere. Here are a few ideas to make the plan comprehensive:
- Emergency contact information, including local authorities
- Evacuation routes
- Meeting checkpoints
- “Go” bag locations and contents
- Essential documents
- Necessary actions, like shutting off water mains or placing sandbags
Securing Flood Insurance
Reach out to several providers to see what coverage and rates are available in the area depending on the region’s risk. Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program. Read carefully through what it protects and its limitations.
For example, insurance will not cover damage related to a sewage line breaking if the flood does not directly cause it. However, it usually compensates for structural losses and lost possessions.
Considering Livestock
If the homestead has livestock, they must be a top consideration. Ensure they’re individually tagged for easy tracking if they get lost during bad weather. Essential documentation in the flood emergency plan should include a detailed list and description of each animal and their condition. This inventory will be vital, as it should contain vet phone numbers and relevant county hotlines.
Moving a herd of cows may be impossible, whereas kenneling the dog is much easier. In this case, find a way to secure shelters for bigger animals so they have somewhere safe to go. They should include food and water stores in case they have to fend for themselves for a short time.
Post-Flood Recovery and Resilience
If a flood hits the property, off-gridders should execute their response plans and begin the recovery process. First, document the damage. Be thorough because this information will be crucial for insurers to provide as much aid as possible. The photos and videos also serve as a to-do list to inform prevention and mitigation tactics for the future.
Restoring the property begins with cleaning. Disinfecting is critical to prevent condensation and waterlogged areas from molding or spreading mildew. Then, figure out what notable repairs and replacements need to happen to make structures stable again.
Homesteaders should look to their community if they don’t live too remotely. Getting to know neighbors is one of the most unexpected yet beneficial ways to remain resilient against natural disasters. The region becomes more protected as a whole and people nearby know how to assist struggling households.
Staying Dry
Every homestead should feel like a haven, but residents must take action to protect them against flooding. This event is becoming even more common as the climate crisis worsens, causing storm intensity to skyrocket. Taking even one of these precautions is a positive step toward protecting the land and its resources.
Leave a Reply