Flood Mitigation for Structures in the Gulf Coast Region Norma Jean Mattei, Ph. D., P.E. University Of New Orleans Special thanks to: Chris Jones, PE and Gordon Boutwell, PhD, PE

A Quiz -- Which Hurricane? Construction: “…the fault lies in the actual construction in the field, such as lack of attention to small detail, anchors, ties, bracing, reinforcing, carpentry, and masonry work.”

Which Hurricane? Designers: “…Engineers and architects are too prone to write specifications in which everything is covered to the minutest detail, and to draw plans on which requirements are shown with hair- splitting accuracy, and then allow the contractor to build the building, sewer, pavement, or structure in general with little or no supervision.”

Which Hurricane? Codes: “…we should not lose sight of the value of good building codes…. Every city in the State, whether damaged by the storm or not, would do well to carefully analyze the existing codes and strengthen them where weak.”

Answer: 1926 Hurricane, Miami FL Article by T. Eefting, Florida Engineer and Contractor (1927)

“Hope for the best, prepare for the worst”

Designing for Flood: All you really need to know... Flood Characteristics (Flood source, BFE & DFE, velocity, duration, waves, erosion, & debris) Flood Loads and Conditions Lowest Floor Elevation Foundation Flood-Resistant Materials

Flood Characteristics Riverine flooding : inundation, velocity, debris, duration (A zones) Coastal flooding: waves, velocity, erosion, debris, inundation, wind (V zones)

and Flooding Behind Levees... (Zones A & B)

Let’s Define Terms... Base Flood: Flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any year (100- yr flood) Base Flood Elevation (BFE): Flood elevation having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any year Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE): Reassessment of BFE after a catastrophic event Codes use Design Flood, DFE

NFIP Flood Hazard Zones VE (V, V1 through V30) AE (A, A1 through A30) AO AH, AR shaded X (B) unshaded X (C) Special Flood Hazard Area, SFHA (code uses FHA) Outside 1% Flood Area }

Flood Hazard Zones A Zones V Zones Coastal A Zones Shown on the FIRM } Used in ASCE 7, 24, not shown on FIRM 3-ft breaking wave 3-ft runup depth Wave overtopping 1.5-ft breaking wave

Minimum Standards: FIRM, BFE & Advisory Flood Elevations FIRM zones and BFE’s reflect “existing conditions” at the time of the study, not today’s conditions many maps are old They do not consider FUTURE CONDITIONS long-term erosion, subsidence, sea level rise, subsequent construction

Flood Requirements for Buildings Also: State of LA Building Code

Opal (1995): New Building in Area Mapped on FIRM as A Zone

Orange Beach, AL (before Ivan)

Orange Beach, AL (Ivan)

Buoyancy Failure Chalmette, LA Pointe-a-La-Hache, LA

Hurricane Opal: Effects of High-Velocity Flow

Flood Depth and Velocity Effects dv 2 = 200 ft 3 /sec 2

High Velocity Flow: At Levee Breach in Orleans Parish

Observations and Thoughts

Wave effects Only slabs remaining Debris Line 1,100 ft SF Home Success

Wave Effects

Debris (Katrina)

Wave and Erosion Damage: Don’t Rely on Erosion-Control Structures Hugo (1989)Opal (1995) Ivan(2004)

But what about New Orleans?...

New Orleans’ dilemma

ELEVATION (feet, NGVD) MISS. RIVER LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN CITY OF NEW ORLEANS GENERALIZED TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY STIFF CLAY (PLEISTOCENE) SEA LEVEL WHERE FRENCH BUILT SOFT CLAY NATURAL LEVEE SAND PEAT EXPANSION

New Orleans’ levee system

FEMA Flood Zones (part of New Orleans)

Flood Mitigation: New Orleans 50% Damage Rule:  Must elevate lowest floor above highest of Advisory Flood Elevation (~ old BFE) 3 foot above adjacent grade  Even if structure has never flooded before in the past 100 years Levees must be certified

Flood Mitigation: Foundations V Zone (add Coastal A Zone) Must: resist erosion and scour resist lateral forces support the building

NFIP Wet Floodproofing Breakaway walls should (cleanly)

NFIP Dry Floodproofing Accumulation of no more than 4 inches of water depth during a 24-hour period if there were no devices provided for its removal ** dry floodproofing option not permitted in V zone

Conclusions Coastal mitigation Foundation design and tie downs important Advisory Flood Elevations are way up  Add Coastal A Zone designation to FEMA FIRM What is successful mitigation (if a structure still stands, is that a good thing?) Mitigation within a hurricane protection system Levee certification 3’ above adjacent grade  area dependent