Keeping Your Yard and Home Dry

Flooding can originate from two primary sources: tidal flooding (coastal flooding) and rainfall-induced flooding (fluvial flooding). 

Houses and other built structure, streets, driveways, sidewalks, patios, dense gravel, etc. are all sources of impervious cover, meaning they block the ability of both tidal and fluvial flood water to infiltrate into the ground. This water then ponds in yards and driveways and can flood homes that are not elevated.

Middletown's Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is also where our more densely populated neighborhoods are located, and therefore, where most of our residential-related impervious cover exists.

While there isn't a single definitive percentage, research indicates that localized flooding can become significant when impervious surfaces exceed 25%. 

impervious

Techniques to direct water away from your home:

Clean, upgrade, and maintain gutters, downspouts and splashpads.

Direct your roof runoff to a raingarden to water plants.

Connect a rain barrel to your gutter downspouts to collect runoff from the roof. This non-potable water can be used to wash your car and water your garden.

Clear debris from drainage ditches and storm drains.

Work with DPW to improve your lot grading.

Structural Upgrades

Elevate the furnace, water heater, central air and other utilities above the design flood elevation.

Install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent flood water back ups into your home.

Seal cracks in the foundation.

Increase areas of permeable ground cover by replacing patios and sidewalks with greenery or permeable pavers.