The Flood Vent Blog

In an earlier blog post, we talked about FEMA’s new app for mobile devices that gives emergency preparedness tips and locations of FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers. There are plenty of other great apps that provide support in emergency situations.

If a major storm is heading your way, you can use an app to track its progress. Hurricane Tracker is an app compatible with iPhones, iPod Touch, and iPads. It has maps, storm status push updates, and audio and video updates. Similarly, Android users can check out Hurricane Software which also provides up-to-date hurricane information.

A great app for emergency and non-emergency situations are flashlight apps for mobile devices. There are plenty to choose from, but Universal Flashlight (for Apple devices) and Droid Light (for Android devices) are among the more popular ones. These apps are great when you find yourself suddenly without power and need to find your way in the dark. Whether a storm has taken out the power line or you simply can’t find your glasses in a dark hotel room, this app is an easy one to load and forget about – until you need it.

None of these apps will be of much use if you can’t keep them charged. Fortunately, there are plenty of emergency chargers on the market to keep smart phones and tablets going when power is out. This is a great item to add to your home emergency kit!

If your area is at risk of flooding, flood vents are a proven way to help maintain the structural integrity of your home. We have a complete line of FEMA compliant flood vents for every application. Contact Flood Solutions to learn more.

Senators and House representatives are deciding the future of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The National Flood Insurance Program is a voluntary program administered by FEMA with over 20,000 communities participating across the U.S. With the objective of reducing the cost of flood damages, participating communities take proscribed steps to reduce possible flood damage and, in return, they get access to federally backed flood insurance. In addition to flood insurance, the NFIP program also covers flood plain management and flood hazard mapping.

The program is not without its critics. It’s currently $18 billion dollars in debt, thanks in large part to claims resulting from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. There have also been numerous complaints about delays in getting claims filled and program inconsistencies.

The NFIP is set to expire December 16, 2011, and it is unlikely Washington will reach agreement on a long-term extension before the program expiry date. As a stop-gap measure, Senators recently agreed to extend the program to May 31, 2012. The bill now goes to the House for review. To check the current status of the bill, S.1958, follow it on the Library of Congress website.

If your community participates in the NFIP program, be sure to subscribe to NFIP email updates. Submit your email address, and you’ll get the latest NFIP news direct to your inbox.

Regardless of the future of the NFIP, it always makes sense to take steps to minimize damage to your home should a flood occur. Our Flood Solutions FEMA compliant flood vents are a proven way to help maintain the structural integrity of your home should flood waters rise. Give us a call at 800-325-9775 or send us a message via our contact page.

FEMA regularly updates flood maps as they gather new data and complete flood mitigation projects. This means you might find your home included in a flood hazard area. This happened recently in Scottsdale, Arizona when FEMA updated their flood maps for that region.

If FEMA flood map revisions put your home in a flood hazard area, FEMA will notify you six months before the change is made official. If you find yourself with a FEAM notification in your mailbox, here are some tips on what you can do:

1. Talk to your insurance agent. If you hold a federally backed mortgage, you’ll be required to purchase flood insurance (if you don’t have some already).  Talk to your insurance agent to make sure you get the right coverage. Even if you’re not required to purchase flood insurance (maybe you don’t have a mortgage, or maybe your mortgage is not federally backed) you should still think about getting insurance. It’s an important way to recover losses should a flood occur.
2. Contact your community flood plain administrator. If your community disagrees with the flood map changes, they can decide to appeal the change. If your community doesn’t plan to appeal, but you disagree with the revised flood maps, you can appeal as an individual. You’ll need to have solid data to support your appeal.
3. Take steps to prepare for a flood. If your home is at greater risk of flooding, you’ll want to prepare. You can minimize flood damage to your home by elevating your furnace and hot water heater, installing values in sewer traps to prevent flood water from backing up into your home, and installing flood vents to minimize pressure damage to your foundation.

Check the FEMA website for more information on flood preparation and flood map changes.

Flood Solutions carries a variety of flood vent sizes and models for installation into existing concrete foundations (and other foundation materials) and for new construction. Contact us to learn more.

FEMA, the federal agency charged with helping communities nationwide prepare, respond, and recover from natural and manmade disasters, recently re-launched its Ready.gov website.

Craig Fugate, administrator of FEMA describes the changes:

The new website provides valuable information on disaster planning. Learn what to do before, during, and after an emergency, get guidelines for making a disaster plan, and learn how to build your own disaster kits. It also has information on preparing as a community and as a business. It even has games for kids!

The site can be accessed via your computer, tablet or mobile device. (There’s even a mobile version of the website at http://m.fema.gov.)

In addition, FEMA also recently released an app for Apple or Android Smartphones. The app provides preparedness information for different types of disasters and even a map with FEMA Disaster Recovery Center locations. You won’t want to rely on this app in the middle of a disaster (when communications may be down), but it can be a useful preparation tool.

When you’re taking steps to minimize flood damage, don’t forget to consider installing flood vents. Flood Solutions has FEMA compliant flood vent models. Contact us to learn more!

Flood vents are a proven way to minimize flood damage. Although counterintuitive, allowing flood water to flow into your home helps preserve the integrity and stability of foundations and walls as water levels rise.

Thankfully, installing flood vents into concrete or other foundations is not difficult. They can be installed into existing openings (retrofitted) or in new home construction. Make sure the bottom of the flood vent opening is no more than 12” above the adjacent grade and that they are level.

Flood Solutions has different flood vent models for different applications. Our flood vent model F is perfect for existing openings. It is made of heavy-duty aluminum with a 1” front mounting flange. It is 1.25” deep. Our flood vent model D is perfect for new construction installation with its 4” deep channel frame and heavy-duty aluminum construction. These can be installed into existing openings or mortared into place as walls are constructed. Our flood vent model C is a special heavy-duty cast aluminum constructed vent designed for existing openings or new construction. It is 3/8” deep.

All our flood vents are available in different colors and sizes.

Complete instructions are included with all Flood Solutions state certified flood vents but the process is pretty simple. When installing a Model F flood vent into an existing opening, you basically just have to drill holes for the screws, insert anchors, secure the vent and caulk around the outside. It’s even easier to install a flood vent into new construction using the Model D. Generally, you just need to insert the vent into the opening while the mortar is wet and then mortar the vent into place when constructing the wall.

Once you’re flood vents are installed, you can relax knowing your flood vents will help protect the integrity of your home if flooding should occur.

To learn more about our flood vents, contact Flood Solutions. You can purchase our flood vents directly via our website.

If water has ever flooded your house or business, you’ll sympathize with this home owner. Notice how the door leading from his basement to his garage bends under the water’s pressure.

You may already be familiar with how flood vents help minimize damage from flood water pressure, but have you thought about installing a flood vent in your garage door?

This may seem counter intuitive. After all, can’t you just raise or lower your garage door as needed to alleviate pressure from rising flood water?

Probably not. Unlike flood vents, garage doors require human intervention to raise or lower them. When flood waters are rapidly rising (and you’ve moved to higher ground), you can’t count on being able to raise or lower your garage door as needed.

Flood vents are specifically designed to allow water to move freely through buildings to minimize damage. Without flood vents, unequal water pressure from inside or outside the home can cause windows, doors, and even garage doors to blow out. They can also cause structure damage to the building.

FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program don’t consider garage doors to be “flood openings.” These organizations have design and installation requirements for flood vents. Once properly installed, FEMA compliant flood vents can reduce your flood insurance premiums.

At Flood Solutions, all of our flood vents are FEMA compliant and satisfy NFIP requirements. We have a selection of flood vent models, sizes and colors to choose from, including our “F” model which is ideal for garage door applications. Flood vents are easy to install in new building constructions or into existing homes and commercial properties. We manufacture all our flood vents in the U.S.A.

Want to learn more about protecting your garage and home with flood vents? Contact Flood Solutions.

When flooding is imminent, it’s too late to take steps to significantly reduce property damage. As residents of New York State’s Southern Tier found out during recent flooding, it pays to prepare for flooding well before it occurs. By taking a few precautionary steps, you can not only minimize damage to your home but also reduce after-flood repair costs.

Flood vents are one of the most effective ways to protect your home during flooding. Installed in the foundation of your home, flood vents allow free flow of water in and out of buildings. Protecting your home by letting water in (as opposed to keeping it out) might surprise you, but unequal water pressure from inside or outside your home can lead to structural damage and even building collapse. Mopping up a wet basement will cost less than repairing your foundation or replacing your home.

You can minimize damage to the contents of your house by putting as little in your basement as possible. Elevate your furnace, hot water heater and electrical panel and move anything expensive or valuable to higher floors. When you remodel or repair your home, use mold resistant drywall and insulation. For more flood mitigation tips, see FEMA’s list of flood preparation steps.

Don’t wait until flood waters threaten before taking action to protect your home and reduce repair costs. Contact Flood Solutions while your basement is still dry.

Damage to property and possessions from flooding can cost you thousands (and thousands) of dollars. For a rough estimate, check out FEMA’s Flood Smart cost of flooding tool.

Fortunately, you can help protect against financial loss from flooding with good insurance coverage. But not all insurance coverage is alike, so you’ll want to understand the fine print. Here are a few questions to ask your flood insurance provider:

What’s covered and what’s not?

Most policies cover building property and personal contents, but most don’t cover property outside of the insured building. These means you’ll need separate coverage for your deck, barbeque, swimming pool or car. In addition, most policies don’t cover living expenses should you evacuate.

How much coverage do I need?

People tend to underestimate the value of their possessions. You’ll want enough coverage to mitigate your losses. It’s worth taking a careful tally of what you own.

Also, some policies provide replacement cost value while others provide actual cash value for damage items. Make sure you (and your insurance agent) understand the difference.

Do I live in a flood zone? What’s the flood risk?

You can use FEMA’s Map Service Center for preliminary research on your flood risk. Keep in mind, however, flooding doesn’t just occur from tropical storms or heavy rain. Your basement can just as easily flood from snow melt or the construction site next door.

Who do I call?

Make sure you know who to call to make your insurance claim. It will be much harder to track down contacts or information in the midst of a disaster.

How can I lower my premiums?

Some insurance providers charge lower premiums to homeowners who take steps to mitigate flood damage. For example, by installing flood vents from Flood Solutions, you may be eligible for reduced insurance premiums.

Check out FEMA’s Flood Smart website for a complete list of questions to ask your insurance agent. Contact Flood Solutions for more information about how flood vents can lower your insurance costs.