laco seal
Department of Public Works
Go to DPW home
Deflection Devices and Building Protection - Homeowners's Guide for Flood, Debris and Erosion Control

HOMEOWNER'S GUIDE
FOR FLOOD, DEBRIS,
AND EROSION CONTROL

INTRODUCTION

  1. THE PROBLEMS
  2. EMERGENCY HOME PROTECTION
  3. OTHER PROPERTY PROTECTION MEASURES
  4. SUMMARY
  5. GLOSSARY OF TERMS
  6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 II. EMERGENCY HOME PROTECTION
DEFLECTION DEVICES AND BUILDING PROTECTION
DOOR AND WINDOW PROTECTION
PROVIDE protection against debris entering around doorways and windows by use of boards or plywood (Fig. 14 and 15).

Fig. 14 Typical Window and Door Protection
Fig. 15 USE OF WINDOW AND DOOR PROTECTION
COVER doors and windows completely with plywood, if affected by the hazard, and use an alternate entrance.
USE low-grade plywood to overlap windows, vents, and doors 3 to 4 inches on all sides.
SECURE each sheet of plywood with four or more nails, screws or bolts; stakes and boards may also be used to wedge barriers in place. As an alternative, standing pipes on both sides of a door may be used to secure a removable barrier (Fig.14).

Fig. 14 Typical Window and Door Protection
Fig. 14 Typical Window and Door Protection
MATERIALS can be dismantled after the storm season and stored year-to-year.

 
 DEBRIS DEFLECTORS AND BARRIERS
USE low-grade lumber and overlap section with protruding end facing downstream (Fig. 17).


Fig. 17 TIMBER DEFLECTOR
DRIVE stakes to at least one-half their length to ensure proper anchorage (Fig.16).


Fig. 16 TYPICAL TIMBER INSTALLATION
PLACE deflectors on solid, level soil if possible to reduce the hazard of undercutting.
DO NOT attempt to use the lumber as a dam.
SOIL firmly packed behind the deflector will provide needed additional strength (Fig. 17).
PLACE sandbags against the house if debris deflector required is greater than 3 feet (Fig. 5).