Practical and cost-effective methods for reducing or eliminating the risk of flooding are available to property owners whose homes have experienced damage from flooding in the past, or may experience damage in the future.
Such techniques include elevation of the home, relocating the home to higher ground, constructing floodwalls or berms, flood-proofing and protecting utilities.
Other things you can do to protect your property are grading, correcting local drainage problems and retrofitting. Retrofitting techniques include floodproofing, elevation, construction of small levees, and other modifications made to an existing building or its yard to protect it from flood damage.
Clark County has adopted land use regulations (click on Compile chapter), construction standards, and a permit system to regulate development in flood hazard areas and minimize flood impacts.
For further information, contact the Building Safety Division at (360) 397-2375. Books and reference materials are available through the Fort Vancouver Regional Library System. Here is a list of titles (PDF - 40K).
During times of flooding, homes that have not been retrofitted can be protected during emergencies by moving furniture and possessions to upper floors and installing sandbags.
For further information about sandbags and the locations of sites where sandbags are available during flooding, contact the county’s Public Works Department at (360) 397-2446, or visit their Web site at: www.clark.wa.gov/situation/sand.htm. In case of an emergency, call 911.
Learn more about flood safety - before, during, and after a flood.
