With the predictions of another El Nino season on the horizon in 2024, it is crucial that residential homeowners, businesses, property managers and public municipalities in California start preparing themselves for the inevitable flooding that comes with it. Let’s review the impact of El Nino on California's flood risks, lessons learned from previous record flooding, and best practices for flood protection solutions are all important topics to keep in mind to safeguard your assets from costly flood damages and repairs.

Carnegie Mellon University, located in Pittsburgh, PA, has confronted notable challenges with floodwaters infiltrating its parking garages and other campus buildings. With increasing storm intensities, resulting in heavier rainfall and concurrent runoff, the university has faced significant stormwater damages, amounting to millions. To tackle this recurring issue, the institution deployed Garrison's Serpent Flood Barrier – a state-of-the-art solution for holding back floodwaters.

25 Parkview Avenue, a 6 story residential condominium complex in the Village of Bronxville, NY is vulnerable to flooding due to parking garages and entrances located at the low point of a sloped road. With a history of devastating effects due to flooding, including the loss of nearly all cars in the underground garage during Hurricane Ida, the need for a robust flood management solution was critical. After thorough consideration by the Board of Directors and a review of marketplace options, the Mayim Flood Barrier, manufactured by Garrison Systems, was chosen for protection of the property.

The frequency and intensity of floods are expected to rise, making flood prevention an even more important objective. At the forefront of this battle against these flood events are Civil Engineers. Their role in designing and implementing flood prevention measures and using the right flood control methods is extremely important when protecting communities.

Aversana at Hammock Bay Condominiums, situated in Naples, Florida, is a luxurious residential complex. In 2022, Aversana faced a significant challenge when Hurricane Ian devastated southwest Florida. This natural disaster caused extensive damage to the lower levels of the building, including elevator shafts and vital utilities. To safeguard against future flood events, Aversana conducted extensive research on rapidly deployable flood barrier systems and selected Garrison Systems' Hammerhead aluminum flood log system.

The Rooftop at Riverside, a newly constructed luxury bar and restaurant complex in downtown Bonita Springs, FL, is built in a known flood zone, according to FEMA flood maps. Phoenix Associates, the project's main contractor, partnered with Garrison Systems to protect this newly constructed high-end structure. This case study delves into the rationale, installation, and emphasis on the balance between design aesthetics with disaster planning and readiness.

Creative Builders Inc. is a well-established construction firm, located in Greenville, South Carolina. It was commissioned by the City of Charleston to build affordable housing in the Eastside neighborhood of Charleston. The James Lewis Jr. Eastside Apartments consists of 400 residential apartment units as well as retail space and is designed to contribute to the revitalization of the Eastside neighborhood. The new build of this apartment complex is located in a known flood zone in the city of Charleston. Therefore, by code, the city requires a series of measures that ensure buildings within a dedicated flood zone are safe and protected.

Island Park experienced severe flooding due to its proximity to the coast. Specifically, both Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irene brought significant flood damage to the Village and the local response firehouse. Island Park sought a solution to protect their firehouse as it serves as critical infrastructure during storms and as a base of operations for Island Park’s emergency response. The Village needed a cost effective and easy to deploy dry floodproofing system to protect the firehouse against damages from future flood events.