Tech and flood: How recent developments can help with natural disasters

Flooding and hurricanes are part and parcel of life for many that live in disaster-prone areas. America alone has suffered through Imelda and Barry in 2019 alone. Not only is it devastating to your home, possessions, must like any other natural disaster, it also puts human life at risk. You can simply go online to know more about cyber liability insurance here: https://www.iselect.com.au/business-insurance/, although there is no insurance that can stop your house from flooding. Therefore, researchers have been slaving away to try and make the world a safer place through technology, creative architecture and innovative storm prediction. Perhaps one day, we will be able to fight nature and prevent storms before they are even formed.

Flooding is usually caused by a leak in the house, but if it is leak-proof and enforced against the incoming tide of water, perhaps we can stay dry in our homes even as the storm is raging outside. In the Netherlands, engineers have taken to adding watertight flood doors and waterproof paneling in the house. While this would not be able to completely keep water from coming in through the windows and other crevices, engineers are also routing electrical cables much higher - rather than running it underground or on ground-level - and replacing easily sodden wooden floorboards with synthetic ones that can stand the test of water.

However, the best method of building a flood-proof house is basically to lift it off the ground on stilts. The downside to this is that you cannot be completely sure of how high the waters will reach and you can only eyeball an estimation. The latest technology allows us to build houses that float. According to The Guardian, “Ingenious Dutch architects have designed houses that have a buoyant, air-filled concrete base instead of conventional foundations anchoring them to the ground” but these technological wonders come 20% more expensive than their less technologically advanced counterparts. But think about it: replacing your home and water damaged items might just cost you as much, if not more.

If the 20% increase in price is not feasible, another architect halfway across the world has built a home on the shoreline and would be half submerged in high-tide when it comes. What he has done is created a drainage system that allows the water to rush into his water-proofed areas and drain out back into the ocean. If we are able to implement a similar construct to our modern homes, it could also save us the heartache of coming home to a flooded home.

Imagine having a house that is waterproofed on the ground level and a drainage system that feeds directly to the water mains or underground pools. The garage can sit on the second floor, along with all other electrical appliances. However, similar to the concept of building a house on stilts, you will have to make sure that the flood does not reach your home at its peak. While this is difficult to assess, it is not impossible, with the flood predicting technology we now have on the market.