Rather than wait for a flood to occur, you can act now to protect your property from flood damage. Even if you’ve never flooded before, in the life of a 30-year mortgage, there is a 26% chance of experiencing a flood if a property is located in the floodplain. Various retrofitting techniques are available to help minimize floodings such as elevating the building, constructing barriers out of fill or concrete, and flood proofing to make the building watertight. Because of Seabrook’s susceptibility to hurricanes and other tropical storms, measures that protect against high winds such as storm shutters or reinforced garage doors should also be considered.

The Seabrook Building Department provides homeowners with information on how to select a qualified contractor, what types of floodproofing strategies may work for a particular property, and what kind of construction and permitting requirements may be required for a floodproofing or mitigation project. There are several publications on retrofitting in the Evelyn Meader Branch Library in Seabrook that can help you decide which technique is best for you and your property. You can also download the following materials from the FEMA website:

• Protecting Building Utilities From Flood Damage
• Avoiding Hurricane Damage: A Checklist for Homeowners
• Against the Wind: Protecting Your Home from Hurricanes and Wind Damage
• Floodproofing for Non-Residential Structures
• Reduce Your Risk from Natural Disasters

Drainage System Maintenance

It is illegal in the City of Seabrook to dump any type of debris into a stream or drainage ditch. Debris can become entangled in culverts and streambeds, and impede drainage causing the flow of water to back up. Citizens should do their part to keep ditches free of debris, and not to allow grass clippings, oil, and other contaminants from getting in storm sewer inlets. Debris dumping should be reported to the Seabrook Public Works department at (281) 291-3286 or by filling out a report online via the Citizen Request Tracker.