If you’ve never delved into the basics of flooding, How Stuff Works (a subsidiary of Discovery) has a great article that covers all aspects, from the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation) to monsoons.
What makes flood water so powerful? How is it we can swim safely in deep ocean water, while even just a few inches of flood water can be deadly? The answer is force of movement. When water overflows riverbanks or bursts dikes, it moves quickly to distribute itself evenly. This movement carries a great deal of force. Water is heavy (as any backpacker knows) so only a few inches of moving flood water can be enough to knock people off their feet or even move cars.
It’s this same force of movement that makes flood vents such a good idea. Flood vents allow water to move through your home, distributing pressure more evenly between the outside and inside of exterior walls. This, in turn, helps your structural foundation remain intact, minimizing costly repairs once flood waters recede.
All our Flood Solutions flood vents are FEMA compliant and made in the U.S.A. For more information about installing flood vents in your new or existing home, contact us.
