Flood Hazards

1. DAMAGES IN THE PAST

If in the past there have already been damage events at and in your building, this is an important indication of the assessment of the risk situation. Even if you have been living at your current place of residence for many years, it also is useful to include the experience of old-established neighborhood. Have damages from flooding already occurred - wether in your neighborhood or at your building?

1. DAMAGES IN THE PAST

2. FLOODS TRIGGERED FROM WATER BODIES

Even small inconspicuous rivulets can become an immense flood hazard due to outflows. On your walks in the area of the building pay attention for hints that flooding might have left: high-water marks, after rainfall flattened grass next to water, small landslides on water embankments or similar. Is your building within sight of a water, or are there waters in your surroundings?

2. FLOODS TRIGGERED FROM WATER BODIES

3. FLOODING AREAS THROUGH WATER BODIES

(In many regions of the world) there is publicly available information that indicates potentially affected areas. The following link gives you the opportunity to have an insight to already known flood areas: Here you can find out if your object is in a blue marked area – please note that smaller streams or rivers are not listed here. The flooding areas depicted, among other functions, serve as a basis for the planning of the municipalities. Additional information can also be found at the relevant offices and authorities. More information can be found under the heading `flood hazards“` and `research and publications`. Do you know whether your building is located in or near a flooding area?

3. FLOODING AREAS THROUGH WATER BODIES

4. FLOOD PROTECTION & FLOOD CONTROL FACILITIES

If in your area existing, protective devices and constructions - such as flood defense walls, dikes or dams - do serve as a certain damage mitigation. Still, nothing is absolutely safe, especially not in times of increasingly frequent extreme climate phenomena. But on your part you can be proactive and upgrade the buildings’ flood resilience through additional measures. Do you know whether your building is close to an existing flood protection facility?

4. FLOOD PROTECTION & FLOOD CONTROL FACILITIES

5. SEWER BACKPRESSURE

overflowing trunking lids Sewers have a limited water storage capacity. In the course of heavy rain events, the waters instead of running into them can pour out of them (e.g. through shafts and road inlets) and straight away on and into your property. Has the sewage system on your street been overflown once or more times (water leaking out of a shaft) causing flooding?

5. SEWER BACKPRESSURE

6. WATER BACK-UP (BACK-PRESSURE) IN THE HOUSE / BASEMENT

In the event of heavy rain it is possible that water can enter the building via the connection between the drainage of the land and the public sewer system. When the public sewer lines are overloaded, the water mix of rain and waste can be stowed back and through your buildings’ installations pour all over. This can cause major damage and hygienic problems. Did this kind of water already pour out from sinks, toilets or cellar drains in your building/apartment?

6. WATER BACK-UP (BACK-PRESSURE) IN THE HOUSE / BASEMENT