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If a building is proposed to be located in a riverine floodplain with flood velocities of 8-10 per second, what should you ask the builder to provide to assure you that the building won't get washed away during a flood?

User MKorsch
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Final answer:

The builder should provide a comprehensive flood risk assessment, structural design plans detailing flood-proofing measures, emergency plans, and evidence of compliance with regulations. The provided information should focus on mitigating flood impact through elevation, material selection, anchoring, and infrastructure such as levees or wetlands conservation. This is crucial for assuring safety and preventing the building from being washed away in a flood.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a building is proposed to be located in a riverine floodplain with flood velocities of 8-10 feet per second, several pieces of documentation and assurance measures should be requested from the builder to ensure the building's safety during a flood. First and foremost, it is crucial to ask for a detailed flood risk assessment, which includes historical flood data and projections based on flood frequency curves. This assessment will help to understand the likelihood and potential impact of flooding on the proposed building site.

Next, engineering plans should be requested that detail the structural design of the building to withstand such velocities, including flood-proofing measures like elevating the building above the expected flood level, using flood-resistant materials, and appropriate anchoring to prevent the building from being washed away. Also, information on the implementation of flood control structures such as levees or weirs, or adaptations like the creation or conservation of wetlands that may help to mitigate flood effects should be provided.

Moreover, the builder should demonstrate how emergency plans will be implemented and whether the building design has taken into consideration the creation of escape routes or shelters in the event of a flood. Lastly, evidence of compliance with local, state, and federal regulations governing construction within floodplain areas must be presented. Without these assurances and rigorous plans, it would be unwise to proceed with building in a high-velocity flood zone.

User John Cargo
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