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Tim W[_2_]

wibbled on Monday 23 November 2009 23:35

On 23 Nov, 19:26, "Tim Downie"
wrote:
Whenever I hear about the poor b*ggers waiting for months to get back
into their flood damaged houses I always wonder whether the repairs
shouldn't just stop at "repair" but should be aimed at making a house
flood resistant.

There was a suggestion on telly after a previous round of floods of a
giant condom which you raised around the house as water approached,
but I bet you'd then find the rubber had perished at the folds.

Another idea from Holland shown around the same time was the whole
house built on a raft that floated up and down on poles.

The real solution, if you insist on living in a flood plain, is to
live upside-down, i.e. the living space with its expensive electrical
goods and irreplaceable family treasures are upstairs, and bedrooms
and bathroom downstairs. Keep a pile of black bags in the bedrooms
ready to get the clothes upstairs PDQ and use rugs not fitted carpets.
Water alarm in case it comes at night.

Chris

Garage at ground level under the rest of the house. The car's going to bite
the dust anyway - at least it would be the only thing of significant value.
Easier to hose out a garage and buy a new car on insurance than deal with
the mess those poor sods are finding.

Problem that some people overlook is flooding isn't just about a bit of
muddy river water coming up - by the time that happens, the sewers are
breached and you've got crap everywhere - as one report put it, after the
waters had receeded, "the street was littered with faeces" (amongst other
things).

--
Tim Watts

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