The Real Danger in Flood EXPOSED
(And a Tip to be Protected)

Andreas Klippe no responses November 21, 2017

Flood is always associated with destruction. It leaves behind tons of rehabilitation works and clearing operations. If you’re still a denier of flood issues, the Internet offers real-life evidences gathered by credible media outfits in the wake of Hurricane Harvey’s onslaught.

THE REAL DANGER IN FLOOD. Though often ignored, the force of water is the real threat whenever there’s flood. Even a static (unmoving) flood has a pressure that can be fatal.

Have you ever wondered why flood is such a destructive power? Afterall, it is just a gush of murky water!

Yes, it is just a gush of murky water, but it is gushing with force. What makes flood dangerous is none other than water pressure.

Now that we’ve pinned down the real danger in flood, let’s go into details how water pressure works in reality and how you can be protected from it.

Really, what is water pressure?

Dictionaries like Merriam Webster oversimplify the issue of water pressure. They define water pressure as a mere force that makes the flow of water strong or weak.

Quite an oversimplification, isn’t it?

In reality, a current of floodwater has a surprising strength. An American weather channel says that even six inches (it means half-a-foot) of floodwater can knock you down!

The same weather channel goes on to say that water levels in flash floods can rise up to one foot in just five minutes.

Though we usually attribute the rising of floodwater to intense rainfall, we also have to consider the strength of its flow. If a flood is fast-rising, it is a tell-tale sign that it carries an amount of force strong enough to drown children — or even adults when they fall face first.

How does it work in reality?

Still not convinced on water pressure?

Strong current of floodwaters was one of the major horrors of Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in 2009. The September 2009 report of TIME described how “a month’s worth of rain deluged the city in the space of 12 hours”.

WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON? Ferocious typhoons and hurricanes have a common denominator. They all trigger intense flooding with a tremendous water force that can destroy homes — and lives too.

Needless to say, this amount of rainfall caused a formidable flow of floodwater from rivers around Metro Manila. TIME’s narration of what the flood did was very graphic: “debris, sewage, and abandoned vehicles…were tossed around by gushing currents”.

We’re speaking here of what happened almost eight years ago.

Perhaps, we can all relate to what we witnessed barely four years ago — the Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Thanks to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), we now have a comprehensive data on the storm surges of Yolanda. By the way, the word storm surge is just another descriptive term for strong floodwater currents.

The DOST said that the highest-predicted storm surge was around 5.3 meters. Imagine a storm surge as high as 5.3 meters, crashing down on homes with a deadly force!

Enough is not enough.

If you’re targeting an enemy like floodwater current, it is not enough to say that you have prepared enough!

Let’s get is straight. A number of flood control systems have been proposed in the past years. Some seem to be very promising; yet, on a closer look, they are obviously substandard solutions to flooding.

NO TO LOW-QUALITY FLOOD BARRIERS! When not engineered properly, even the most sturdy-looking flood barriers can’t handle the strength of floodwater. FCA’s flood barriers are not faulty like these ones, and are excellent defenses against flood.

No to low-quality flood solutions!

Some flood control systems use inflatable bags to block water flow. If you are blocking a mere puddle, inflatable bags will surely suffice. But when blocking strong floodwater currents, those inflatable bags will just float like rubber duckies!

Some flood barriers are using bags filled with “absorbent gels” that swell and solidify upon contact with water. Even these gel bags are not fit to stop powerful currents. Floodwaters will simply push these gel bags like the good old sandbags!

No to poorly engineered flood barriers either!

Lastly, there are some that use “flood boards” or “floodgates” that seem to be more durable than inflatable or gel-filled bags. However, these boards are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), the same material used to make children’s toys and plastic identification cards! Though PVC is known for its resiliency, light materials cannot withstand forces that can destroy concrete walls.

Here’s the most awaited tip!

If you are putting up a flood barrier, first thing to do is to check the product’s durability. As we discussed above, durability (against water pressure) is possible only if the flood barrier is made of high-quality materials and is engineered properly.

You may also consult a structural engineer to hear a second opinion. At the end of the day, it is wise to hear advice straight from the experts.

What if?

You do not have a keen eye on flood barriers. After all, product explainers are so convincing that you end up thinking all flood barriers are made of high-calibre materials.

You do not know an engineer whom you can talk to. Besides, you are hesitant to pay an engineer just for a few words on flood barriers.

Here’s what we can offer you:

We’ll not keep it any longer. Of all the flood barriers out there in the market, there is one that stands out from the rest when it comes to water pressure resistance — the barriers from Flood Control Asia RS (FCA).

What makes FCA flood barriers resistant to intense water pressure?

Simply put, these flood barriers were not created with a simple mix-matching of aluminum plates, screws, and steel bars. FCA flood barriers were created with a science!

Take a look on this table:

LET NUMBERS PROVE IT. The table shows the strength of floodwater (in varying height). Even an unmoving and seemingly harmless flood can break through concrete walls because of its “deadweight”.

The leftmost column shows the height of static floodwater. Though the water is not moving (in contrast to what we discussed above), it is still exerting pressure on the barriers. As the floodwater level gets higher, the amount of pressure it exerts on barriers becomes stronger (of course, that should be very obvious).

The next two columns, labeled kPa (kilopascal) and psi (pounds per square inch), are both measurements of the actual force exerted by the floodwater (kPa is a more common unit of measurement, while psi is mainly used in the United States and Great Britain).

For those allergic to pure Physics, let’s give concrete scenarios:

Floods usually start on a low level that increases over time. In most cases, floodings start at an average level of 0.5 meters (about a knee-high flood).

Without you knowing it, an unmoving flood with a height of 0.5 meters (knee-length) is already exerting a pressure of 4.9 kPa. This force is not yet destructive, but it can put an “uncomfortable strain” on your flood barrier.

A 1-meter floodwater exerts a force of 9.8 kPa on flood barriers. This “deadweight” alone can shatter glass on windows (though the water is not aggressively moving towards the target).

At 2 meters, the pressure a floodwater exerts amounts to 19.6 kPa. At this point, the floodwater can break through concrete walls and bring down an entire house. Whoaah!

Then, at 4 meters of floodwater, the destruction is unspeakable. Even reinforced concrete structures can be completely demolished. Some sources say it is even comparable to the atmospheric pressure at the top of Mt. Everest!

Now, are you still thinking?

We bet you’re now convinced that water pressure should not be taken as a “no biggie”. In spite of the dangers water pressure might cause, you can calm yourself because we’re offering you a solution.

CHOOSE “REAL SAFE”! Unlike substandard flood barriers, the ones made by FCA are a perfect match against floodwater pressure. FCA’s flood barriers have kept 8,000 customers “Real Safe” for over two decades.

What’s left to be done here is get a quotation of FCA flood barriers! Our flood barriers are designed to resist floodwaters as high as 4 meters. Such is a proof that the FCA flood barriers are designed to truly protect homes, businesses, and loves.

FCA flood barriers will not only keep you dry it will also keep you safe no matter how strong the currents are!

Note:

What you have just read is the first in a series of our exposés about the FCA flood barriers. We’ll keep you posted as we reveal more about FCA flood barriers and how they can protect you, your home, and your livelihood!