12. Emergency Preparedness - Flood-Prone Zones

Locate buildings out of flood-prone areas

Rationale: Locating facilities out of flood-prone zones and managing for potential flood risks decreases the immediate risk of mortality, injury, and PTSD from flooding and mitigates the longer-term risk of degraded indoor air quality from water damage, which is linked to chronic respiratory conditions and contagious diseases.

For the most accurate strategy and documentation requirements, please refer to the digital scorecard made available on the Fitwel Platform.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Flood-Prone Areas (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all the following requirements:  

1. Identify the flood risks according to local flood risk maps within the building(s) site.
2. Locate the residential building(s) outside of flood-prone areas*.

*Flood-prone areas are those that are likely to flood over the next 30 years (> 6% chance of 1 inch of water reaching the largest home or building on a property at least once during this time period).

*Flood-prone areas are those that are at risk of coastal flooding, heavy rains, and poor drainage.

Option 2 - Flood-Risk Mitigation (Partial Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit if located in a flood-prone area by demonstrating compliance with the below requirements:

1. Identify the flood risks according to local flood risk maps within the building(s) site.
2. Implement a minimum of two of the following qualifying flood-risk mitigation practices:

• elevate boilers so they are not located at or below ground level
• install a sewage water backstop
• improve lot grading so that stormwater runs away from the building by building up any sunken areas around the foundation or digging small depressions to properly channel water
• integrate stormwater management strategies into landscaping through rain gardens, vegetated swales, or pervious pavements
• install a rain barrel
• develop a maintenance plan for gutters, downspouts, and splash pads so that rainwater from the roof flows easily away from the building
• anchor outdoor fuel tanks
• elevate utilities and service equipment so that they are a minimum of 1 foot above the flood elevation.

Compliance Documentation

Design Pathway 

Option 1: 

• Upload an annotated site plan or map identifying the flood risk of the building(s) site.
• Upload an annotated site plan or map identifying the planned location of the building(s).

Option 2: 

• Upload an annotated site plan or map identifying the flood risk of the building(s) site.

• Upload a description of the flood-risk mitigation practices that will be implemented.

• Checkboxes to certify that a minimum of two of the listed flood-risk mitigation practices will be implemented
• Upload an annotated design drawing(s) or product specification sheet(s) of each unique planned flood-risk mitigation practices that will be implemented within the building(s) site.
• Upload annotated design drawings or plans showing the location of each unique planned flood-risk mitigation practices that will be implemented within the building(s) site.

Built Pathway 

Option 1: 

• Upload an annotated site plan or map identifying the flood risk of the building(s) site.
• Upload an annotated site plan or map identifying the location of the building.

Option 2: 

• Upload an annotated site plan or map identifying the flood risk of the building(s) site.

• Upload a description of the flood-risk mitigation practices that are implemented.

• Checkboxes to certify that a minimum of two of the listed flood-risk mitigation practices are implemented
• Upload an annotated photograph(s) or product specification sheet of each unique flood-risk mitigation practices implemented within the building(s) site.
• Upload an annotated plan(s) showing the location of each unique flood-risk mitigation practice implemented within the building(s) site.