Introducing the Invisible Flood Control Wall (IFCW™) From Flood Control America

1. Introducing the Invisible Flood Control Wall (IFCW™)From Flood Control America The IFCW™ is not a traditional flood control system. It is absolutely the opposite. The IFCW™ represents a brand new way of thinking about flood control. No longer does flood protection require a hugely invasive system that robs a community of its charm, scenery and riverfront access. The IFCW™ is a removable floodwall. When floodwaters rise, the wall is quickly erected, and when those waters recede the IFCW™ is easily dismantled and stored conveniently away, leaving the waterfront free of obstruction, effortlessly solving the problems traditional flood control alternatives inevitably leave in their wake.

2. THE TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVESHistorical Places When faced with a major flood control problem, communities are generally given little choice: earthen levee, concrete wall, or an invasive combination of the two. Unfortunately, these alternatives can be utterly devastating to the historical value of a community, robbing an area of its traditional, scenic riverfront. Citizens are left with a difficult decision: sacrifice their community’s historical charm or remain vulnerable to flood devastation.

3. THE TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVESHistorical Places (2) It is precisely this paradox that has made the IFCW™ the #1 flood control alternative where preservation of a riverfront setting is of significant consideration. With the IFCW™, there is no reason to sacrifice the historical value of the riverfront during the overwhelming majority of the time that the river flows below flood stage. It is only when waters rise that the wall is quickly and easily erected, transforming from an obstruction-less view to an unbreachable flood control system in a few short hours.

4. THE TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVESGreen Spaces Too often it is the parks and riverfront walks that are depleted of the very beauty for which they have been preserved in the first place. There is nothing like a concrete wall running through the local park to destroy the charm and ecological value of the green space.

5. THE TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVESGreen Spaces (2) While there has been a trend toward conserving park settings in traditional flood planning, the damage is nonetheless done. Additionally, permanent structures remain vulnerable to the inevitable, costly plague of vandalism (as seen in photo).

6. THE TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVESGreen Spaces (3) Fortunately, it is not mandatory to concede parks to the ugly by-products of traditional flood control systems. With the IFCW™, parks and recreational spaces remain open and restful places where citizens can continue to go to unwind. This aspect of the IFCW™ highlights FCA’s guiding motto: Harmony with Nature.

7. THE TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVESHomes and Residential Areas The nightmare that follows is all too common. The devaluation of property and the complete loss of scenery can be devastating for residents whose homes lie within 100-year flood plains. In this photo, the earthen levee was not high enough to fit within the 100-year flood plain, so piles were driven and a concrete wall was constructed that ran 5’ over the pilings, completely obscuring the resident’s view of the river. What truly disturbed the resident, however, is that in 35 years the river had never even threatened his home. So why this apparent over-protection?

8. THE TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVESHomes and Residential Areas The truth is that flood control planning must encompass projected 100-year flood levels. However, by definition such levels are only reached every 100 years, meaning that 99 years or more may go by without permanent structures ever being necessary. Additionally, waters will only be above flood stage in the event year for two weeks or less, meaning that only 2 weeks out of 5200 weeks the permanent structures will be necessary. That translates to permanent structures being completely unnecessary 99.962% of the time. However, the views are obscured and the property values are devalued forever. Period. FCA believes that this is completely unnecessary, and that homeowners’ rights ought to weigh significantly in any flood control equation. The IFCW™ gives communities the option to preserve homeowners’ property values and views, which is a great way to keep citizens happy.

9. THE TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVESCommunity Empowerment Too often communities are resigned to whatever traditional flood system the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dictates is the most appropriate system for their situation. Unfortunately, the C.O.E. simply places no value on the rights and wishes of the citizens of a community. If the C.O.E. decides the most appropriate flood control system is a huge concrete wall running the length of the downtown riverfront, then that is what the community is stuck with. Until now. The IFCW™ has now been installed in five C.O.E. projects, and the numbers continue to grow.

10. THE TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVESCommunity Empowerment However, it is absolutely vital that the community tell the C.O.E. what they want, and simply refuse to accept any unreasonable alternative. The C.O.E. needs to understand that they are working for the people, and that it is their civic responsibility to provide to the people the flood control system of their choice, as long as that system is of sound engineering and reasonable cost, which is exactly what the IFCW™ from Flood Control America is all about.

11. If you believe that your community could benefit from the advanced, removable flood protection of the IFCW™, please contact us.Flood Control America29 Goodmans Hill RoadSudbury, MA 01776Voice 978-440-8902Fax 978-440-8903fryklund@ma.ultranet.comwww.floodcontrolam.com