Why Submerged Wood May Not Rot

10/15/26

“How can submerged wood not rot?”

It’s easy to think submerged wood will rot quickly. But in many such cases, the underwater environment lacks the oxygen amount necessary to power the fungi and aerobic bacteria that would rot it, leading to wood preservation. This is Why Submerged Wood May Not Rot. Cities built on reclaimed land like Amsterdam literally rest on this principle.

Sunny Day Flooding

10/14/26

“Why do some coastal communities flood without storms?”

When people discuss tidal flooding, it’s easy to think it only happens during severe storms. However, high tides on bright, sunny days can lead to flooding as well. These Sunny Day Flooding events will become more common as sea levels rise from climate change. 

Chronic Inundation

10/12/26

“How can we categorize sites that flood at least every other week?”

Neighborhoods by coastal waters can flood due to coastal tides. In the U.S., locales where 10 percent of their usable, non-wetland area floods at least 26 times a year (roughly every other week, corresponding to high tides) are labelled as suffering from Chronic Inundation. More cities will likely suffer from chronic inundation in the future as a consequence of climate change, from small towns to massive cities like Manhattan.

Freeboard Elevation

10/11/26

“How can we add an extra factor of safety to create minimum building flood elevations?”

Base flood elevation is the local 100-year flood elevation. Many municipalities specify a Freeboard Elevation, or extra factor of safety minimum floor elevation, above the base flood elevation to make the design flood elevation. 1 – 3 feet is a common freeboard elevation.

How People Use Pumps to Drain Floods

10/10/26

“How do people use pumps to drain floods?”

People all over the world have to drain stormwater from the built environment. This can be difficult if the water is in a low-lying area or there’s a deluge of water coming in. But what if we were to concentrate the stormwater in a particular location and then use pumps to remove it? Well, this is exactly How People Use Pumps to Drain Floods. People and organizations can use stationary or portable pumps depending on their needs and capacities. Pumps require energy to work, making them difficult to use during disaster times.

image credit: www.streampumps.com

Revetments

10/08/26

“How can armor riverbanks and shorelines to prevent erosion?”

Riverbanks and coastal shorelines are subject to erosion by moving water. But what if we were to add protective material to a slope, such as stone or sandbags over the impacted land to prevent erosion? These items, termed Revetments, can act as armor and stabilize the riverbank/coastline. However, revetments can stop the spread of sediment onto their protected surface, leading to erosion from lack of replenishment. Consequently, people must treat revetment design and deployment with great care.

Base Flood Elevation

10/07/26

“Why does FEMA care about the water elevation level resulting from a one-hundred-year flood?”

U.S. FEMA quantifies a one-hundred-year flood as one with a one percent chance of happening in a given year. The water level elevation above sea level resulting from that flood is called the Base Flood Elevation, or BFE. FEMA publishes BFEs in its maps. If your building is at or below the BFE, you will likely face higher flood insurance premiums. New development that affects hydrology can alter the BFE for a local area.