Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Cabanatuan City

Flood Control Strategies

(Structural Mitigation Measures)

MEMBER 1

OPRAH CAYOG

MEMBER 2

PATRICIA MAE CABRERA

PCS 2: FLOOD CONTROL AND DRAINAGE ENGINEERING

Engr. Derick Aldrin L. Esteban

Page 1 of 9
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cabanatuan City

The mitigation measures that are employed to achieve the first two goals of mitigation process,

a reduction in the likelihood or acceptance of hazard, are grouped into two primary categories:

structural and non-structural.

Structural mitigation measures are those that involve or dictate a necessity for some kind of

construction, engineering, or other mechanical changes or improvements aimed at reducing

hazard risk likelihood or consequence. They often are considered at “man controlling nature”

when applied to natural disasters. Structural measures are generally expensive and include a

full range of regulation, compliance, enforcement, inspection, maintenance, and renewal issues.

Levees, Floodwalls, Seawalls, and Other Appurtenant Structures

These structures are designed to prevent floodwaters and storm surges from reaching areas that

are at risk. Consequences of failure can be catastrophic because those behind the structure can

be subject to rapid inundation and flooding conditions more severe than if the floodwaters had

risen gradually

Page 2 of 9
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cabanatuan City

Dams

Barriers that impound hydrologic flows, dams retain floodwaters before they reach areas at risk.

For example, during high-precipitation periods, dams hold upstream floodwaters that are

released gradually to minimize the likelihood of damage to downstream communities.

However, during exceptionally large events, the storage capacity of a dam can be exceeded and

uncontrolled flood flows are passed downstream. Under these circumstances, downstream

levees may not be able to contain floodwaters and will fail. This condition occurred in 2011

during spring floods on the Missouri River (USACE, 2012b). Under exceptional circumstances,

dams can fail and send significant quantities of water downstream, resulting in damage or

destruction of levees and communities below the dams.

Floodways, Spillways, and Channels

Floodways, spillways, and channels are constructed to carry floodwaters around a community

or region where the capacity of a river to pass a large volume of floodwaters past a critical

location is limited. Under some circumstances, river channels can be modified to increase their

flood carrying capacity. During the 2011 flooding of the Mississippi River, USACE opened

floodways near New Madrid Missouri to take the pressure off upstream and downstream levees

in Illinois, Kentucky, and other locations in Missouri, and three floodways in Louisiana to relieve

pressure on structures in the New Orleans area. A similar floodway provides relief when needed

to relieve pressure on levees surrounding Sacramento, California

Page 3 of 9
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cabanatuan City

Structural Mitigation Through Improved Levee Design or Modification

During a flood, levees are under continuous stress that threatens their integrity. The most

serious challenges result from wave action against a levee face, the erosion of the land side of a

levee as the levee is overtopped or subject to waves breaking over its top, and seepage under

the levee that destroys the levee from within. Forms of these occurred during Hurricane Katrina

and caused the failure of levees in the New Orleans region in 2005. Use of controlled

overtopping, armoring, and underseepage control can greatly reduce the potential for

catastrophic failure.

Controlled Overtopping and Breaching of Levees

During a flood event, the risk of a levee overtopping can be significant and the consequences

can be catastrophic. Controlled overtopping of levees or engineered overtopping involves

designing a levee to force overtopping in the least hazardous location (USACE, 1986). This can

be done by using different levee heights, known as superiority, or notches or openings in a

desired location

Page 4 of 9
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cabanatuan City

A gated overflow spillway that would control flows into a desired area.

The advantages of controlled overtopping in a designated area are

(1) reducing the impact of overtopping failure in the selected area and in other parts of the levee

system,

(2) reducing the likelihood of overtopping in less desirable areas (i.e., areas with more

development), and

(3) reducing levee maintenance and repair costs after the flood event.

Levee Armoring

Armoring a levee involves making a levee less susceptible to erosion induced by floodwaters

and overtopping. It involves the use of a variety of materials, from concrete to vegetation. Three

key factors in determining levee survival in a significant flood event and overtopping are depth

and duration of flow, flow velocity (a function of slope inclination, height of the drop, and flow

friction), and the erosive resistance of the vegetation mat and underlying soils

Page 5 of 9
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cabanatuan City

Seepage Berms and Cutoff Walls

Depending on the nature of the material used in the construction of the levee and the foundation

of the levee, water may flow through or under a levee creating the potential for collapse of the

levee or its foundation

Example of an armored levee in Japan.

Page 6 of 9
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cabanatuan City

NONSTRUCTURAL MITIGATION MEASURES

Nonstructural measures vary in cost and effectiveness and the physical and political effort
required to implement them. The selection of which measure to use is a function of the location
in which it will be employed (topography, expected flood levels, etc.), the availability of funds,
and public acceptance of use.

TYPES OF FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT

Structure Elevation

By raising a structure above the expected flood level, flood damages can be prevented. Behind
an accredited levee, if a flood greater than the one percent annual chance flood occurs, there
could be some damage to such elevated properties but considerably less than if the structures
had been at the base flood elevation (BFE).

Elevation includes moving key or essential equipment from low-lying elevations within a
structure to areas that would not be subject to flooding.

Relocation

Moving of a structure (or contents) to a location that is less prone to flooding and flood-related
hazards such as erosion.

Natural Systems

Naturally existing, restored, or developed wetlands, as well as land in periodic cultivation, can
store overflow waters from riverine flooding and help reduce downstream impacts.

 Wetlands also provide a natural barrier to storm surge inundation.

 Coastal sand dunes protect structures built behind them and help slow down coastal
erosion and also the immediate impact of rising storm surge.
 Floodways built to relieve flood pressure can also provide ecosystem benefits

Page 7 of 9
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cabanatuan City

(Galloway et al., 2009; Opperman et al., 2009). Use of natural systems typically requires some
form of real estate acquisition (fee simple, easement, payment for use, etc.) because the benefits
from such measures normally do not accrue to the individual who may own the property
required.

Risk Mapping

Accurate mapping of risks provides those living or working in flood-prone areas, in front of or
behind levees, with the information necessary to make rational decisions in developing their
personal or corporate flood risk management strategies

Hazard Forecasting, Early Warning Systems, and Emergency Plans

Detailed weather forecasts of the path and severity of a tropical storm, and accurate predictions
of stages (heights) of flooding rivers. Preparation of emergency action and evacuation plans can
similarly reduce or eliminate casualties and property losses

Floodproofing

Floodproofing- a combination of adjustments and/or additions of features to buildings that

eliminate or reduce the potential for flood damage. Floodproofing can also include permanent
or temporary installation of barriers such as modular dams and small levees designed to keep
floodwaters away from one or more structures for limited periods of time

 Dry floodproofing seals structures to prevent floodwaters from entering

 Wet floodproofing makes uninhabited portions of a structure resistant to floods by

allowing water to enter and flow through the structure during a flood

Page 8 of 9
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cabanatuan City

Land-Use Planning and Zoning

Wise land use is at the center of nonstructural flood mitigation activity and is an effective tool
for reducing risk at the community level. Land-use planning implements public policy to direct
how land in a given area is used. It is executed through zoning ordinances and takes place on
multiple levels of government, from national policy to local policy where there may be
designation of parcels for a specific use at the local level.

Although the NFIP requires regulation of the land within the SFHA, it does not require flood-
prone communities to regulate areas beyond the one percent annual chance flood level or areas
behind levees even though both areas face flood risks

Construction Standards and Building Codes

Construction standards and building codes can be developed at any level of government but
they are enforced at the local level. While codes provide for public safety, they also prescribe
practices and measures that directly address known causes of disaster damages

Kunreuther (1996) found that one-third of the damages associated with the 1992 Hurricane
Andrew could have been avoided had Florida enforced its building codes.

Page 9 of 9