Homeowners build berm around property to protect it from flooding

[@leephil100]

I live in this area and that house is NOT in a flood zone and the area next to it has always just been an empty lot with no water. The recent rains and hurricanes in this area are just causing a lot of flooding in all the areas around. I have a lot of compassion for this woman which seems missing from a lot of the comments I read.

[@bftjoe]

Any local low point is where water will flow to, regardless of whether it is a "flood zone" or not. Are you calling the news report wrong that there is a retention pond next to the property? How much sympathy do you expect from strangers on the internet for someone who makes such poor choices as living next to a retention pond?

[@glyniscoleman4813]

If they hadn't built the housing project right up the street she wouldn't have to worry about it where that housing project is that's was the lowest point was all swamp land and where the water used to drain into I grew up here and know the whole area and your right it isn't a flood zone

[@johngalt5205]

We just moved to Central Florida from California. Our house is pretty much at the top of a gentle hill, and it's elevated a little, so when we caught Milton square in the teeth, we had no problems with water. But the Lennar bastards put in a development behind our across the street neighbors in what was a marsh, so now they are getting drainage from the new properties through their lawns. If it was me, I would sue.

[@CherryGryffon]

@@glyniscoleman4813 I mean.... clearly it is. It just hasn't /officially/ been zoned as such by the city. But it sounds like from what the city said to her... they know it is. Which means IF she wants anything to actually happen here, she's going to have to speak to local councilmen to get them to bring it up at the next city council meeting; That the city is aware of her home and property being in a clear flood zone, and that it needs to be ZONED for such, to give her the protections legally required when one DOES live in a known flood zone.

[@tailwatcher2500]

@@CherryGryffon apparently you don't know how water and drainage works. Soil absorption is measured in minutes per inch. The average rate of absorption is 32 minutes per inch of water. Concrete and asphalt directs the water somewhere else which increases the amount of inches of water soil will have to absorb. That water was all directed to this couple's property. The extra inches meant extra days for the soil to absorb, thus causing flooding. Calling the area a flood zone would require the building department to admit that filling in wetlands is detrimental to surrounding areas. There's only wetlands left to build on in Florida. So admitting filling wetlands is detrimental means ending new construction, and costing them millions in taxable property. It will never happen. Instead this property and surrounding properties will be abandoned, then knocked down, filled in and the process started all over again. Then the now new but in the future old neighborhood will complain about the water flooding their neighborhood and the cycle continues. All while the city continues to profit off the suffering of others.

[@chrislj2890]

0:25 "That berm looks taller than you are." That guy is really sharp.

[@DanThomas-n1e]

As usual they ttry to make people trying to provide their own solutions as nutter butters

[@greggreg2263]

I think the berm will work. It would be nice to find some ideal vegetation to hold it together in case of erosion in a big flood. and possibly have a pump ready to roll.

[@b_uppy]

Good point about vegetation. It adds natural structure and reduces chances of the soil overdrying and eroding. They need to add stuff that's tolerant of both wet and dry soil conditions, so native plants that thrive in both seem a good choice.

[@bloodlove93]

definitely, just left a whole individual comment about that including several plant suggestions good for Florida (them and us in cali can grow most the same stuff.)

[@ronbennett7885]

Better option is raising the home. A berm can keep water out, but also hold it in. Also, not helpful for water entering from underneath.

[@TimRannow]

It's a slab home. Pretty much impossible to raise.

[@greenwave819]

water from underneath? what is this dark magic you speak of??

[@gomerhanger2285]

@@greenwave819LMAO

[@2020525142152]

Slab house can be raised just very expensive

[@b_uppy]

​@greenwave819 Hydraulic pressure...

[@Cucumberflavoredmustard]

That whole property just looks like a giant mosquito hatchery.

[@b_uppy]

A retention pond is meant to temporarily hold water. Soil biology is meant to enhance water absorption.

[@MrGrombie]

They should put in some trees and other deep running root plants to reinforce the berm. The roots will stabilize the berm and stop it from opening up.

[@b_uppy]

Some trees have shallow roots. That said native plants that thrive in both wet and dry conditions is a good choice. They'll tolerate the (assuming they used local material) soil composition, and work in conjunction with the local soil biota to create gluey exudates that further bind and hold against water pressure. They need to avoid synthetic inputs including fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides _as these kill off most natural soil biota and cause summer over drying and winter waterlogging._

[@welcome_to_the_collapse]

If this were in CA she would have been fined millions for doing this.

[@AAWGASHTADS]

But her property taxes would be so low due to Prop 13 that she could afford it

[@SteveSabbai]

I'm sure the county has a solution but it involves their money so they decided to let the homeowners use their own money to fix it.

[@DanThomas-n1e]

Exactly. Thhis is happening to the grid. Telling us to get solar because they dont want to py to upgrade the grid. Soon we will have brownouts as they import millions of illegals living 25 to a house with 8 cars in the driverwae and fining us for changing our oil on our driveway

[@fhuber7507]

Lots of good reasons to put in a berm. A berm without a pump and off-grid power can turn your property into a pond.

[@DanThomas-n1e]

All they need to do is CAULK AROUND THE DOORS and go in and out through a window for a few days. I have sen that in ft lauderdale and that would be my solution. $20. They can also paint the brick a few feet up with basement paint. BERMS WILL DO NOTHING if its from rain because they are going to get as much rain on one side as the other. Not getting their strategy. I have an RV and I COULD biuld a monster TENT to stop roof leaks or I could use caulk. I caulk

[@tbugher62]

You buy a house in a flood zone,and wonder why it flooded,geez.

[@jasoncrandall73]

Even the county knew their homes were the lowest point. Gets you to wonder if their realtor knew or didn't know about that.

[@TimRannow]

Damn Democrats . Think that they always need the government to bail them out .

[@tbugher62]

@jasoncrandall73 it's on the buyers too know what they are purchasing and the area.

[@jasoncrandall73]

@tbugher62 I bought my fixed up 1950s Florida Bungalow & my realtor told me I was in the lowest risk flood zone. I still carry flood insurance for about $600/yr.

[@TimRannow]

@jasoncrandall73 that's going up.

[@auntbeth448]

Plant Willow trees near the retention pond…mature willow trees can drink 60-80 gallons of water per day…I would also suggest several sump pumps that drain into that retention pond…as well as willows around the outside of the berm to secure the berm…good luck!

[@b_uppy]

And holds its leaves longer so that holds true thru late fall.

[@bobcaygeon975]

Have you not heard? The berm is the word.

[@DanThomas-n1e]

As the berm turns

[@bbrcummins1984]

When the county 4 lanened that road, it pushed water onto that property, I've seen being done for years

[@glyniscoleman4813]

No when they built that housing project is when the problem started

[@b_uppy]

So the county is behind both, then...

[@glyniscoleman4813]

@@b_uppy yep

[@tailwatcher2500]

​@@glyniscoleman4813people don't seem to understand how water and earth works. Adding more concrete and asphalt to area leaves less surface area for water to saturate into the earth. It has dramatic effects to the surrounding areas. Once the soil absorption rate is affected, the water goes somewhere else. Usually a place not known to flood. It's really basic understanding of water flows but completely ignored by the DEI building departments and city councils looking for more tax base.

[@glyniscoleman4813]

@tailwatcher2500 exactly

[@A3Kr0n]

What part about "it's going to get much worse" don't they understand yet?

[@AAWGASHTADS]

Will Ther nayburs be bermed out when that water deflects onta Ther Propurty ?

[@lplp1546]

This berm will fail. You need to raise the elevation of the home.

[@barbarashaffer8486]

can the flood barriers that were used around Tampa Hospital not available to purchase? cause those are super easy and fast to put up and very effective.

[@BigOdog]

But that requires a whole team to mobilize and demobilize,?and it would have to be during a hurricane only in which they’re probably serving large clients. But I’ve seen people fill tubes with water and wrap it around their home

[@barbarashaffer8486]

@@BigOdog no it wouldnt. the city purchased those, and CHOSE to use ppl to mobilize them. how hard would it be for 5 grown men to put up a few around a house on a commercial scale? it shouldnt require anything but the right to purchase them. getting them installed and put up is now on the owner, me.

[@BigOdog]

@@barbarashaffer8486 the aqua fence installed in Tampa are not available for commercial purchase. You have to purchase their service which includes set up and tear down. And who wants to hold that much inventory anyways. I’m not sure the prices but the home owner cannot just purchase and install on their own. I would imagine for liability purposes that’s why they do the install themselves. But for regular homeowners I did see some barriers, but they seem much cheaper and much smaller. I hope one day the aqua fence can be used for residential clients but for right now it looks like they only focus on large commercial clients.

[@barbarashaffer8486]

@@BigOdog right, thats what i was asking. why is there not a commercial version of this, it would be a great money maker all over the east and southern coasts.

[@mhxxd4]

I hope it was compacted, it would be a shame if the water were to seep right thru. Also I hope they got a pump because at least some will seep thru the ground

[@b_uppy]

Think flooding and drying issues need to be addessed by all homeowners. Homeowners need to create raingardens/ponds on their properties. This would create wildfire resiliency, decrease downstream flooding, recharge aquifers/wells, regreen, etc. We now better understand hydrology. It's been found rainwater harvesting to soil improves overall water cycles, increases downstream groundwater supply for a longer period, purifies groundwater, reduces erosion, reduces pollution, 8nc4eases soil carbon and fertility, assists wildlife and livestock especially in removing stressors, etc. Raingardens, ponds and using other rainwater harvesting techniques would especially benefit people living on perennially dry land. Its a cheap, durable investment with a lot of return It's better able to reduce variables brought from irregular, changing weather, changing landscapes including roads, houses, etc. Would consider a dye test of the county's pond to see/prove if the water from there is causing an issue...

[@CRAFT7445]

Those berms will keep water IN just as much as keeping it OUT.

[@floridaorbust5038]

Good for them. Your insurance company will still deny and claims In the future.

[@remymarman]

She is in a rural area outside of the city limits. Since it’s sparsely populated with little to no homes the county will not invest in drainage anytime soon. Keep in mind these places mostly have septics and well water.

[@glyniscoleman4813]

It's not rural there is a 300 house development not a mile up the road there is a fire station about the same distance and an elementary school 2.5 miles the other way

[@remymarman]

@ Trust me it can be rural. I have lived in Florida all my life. I know an area just like that called West Lake in Loxahatchee which is in Palm Beach County with 4500 homes. The developer purchased the land and put in everything but drive down a mile or 2 is the unincorporated part of Loxahatchee they just started putting in drainage

[@glyniscoleman4813]

@@remymarman it was rural lots of deer we used to hunt and party in that area in high school and go mudding on the weekends they destroyed it like they are destroying the rest of the state with housing projects that are ugly and poorly built

[@remymarman]

@@glyniscoleman4813 I believe you. Now everyone is leaving Tampa and Orlando for Ocala

[@chuckdameron5626]

You live near a pond you need to get the pond deeper the berm will work and you need to make sure the water goes away from your house

[@subicstationditosailor4053]

Digging deeper will usually not work in Florida because of the high water table.

[@johntorres4573]

Is flood insurance still required,

[@rebapuck5061]

Did they raise the driveway over he berm?

[@Vic-m8s-b3s]

They may as well stock their property with bluegills, bass, perch, etc.

[@johngalt5205]

Raising the house should have cost between 10 and 40k and would have been a much better option.

[@mikeprice4103]

Might work great!

[@bobcaygeon975]

Any excavators here? Cost of this?

[@904ross]

That's really a detention pond, very shallow like 3ft & only meant to hold water for a few days then dry back out. Looking at google there's not really any creeks or anything close by to take water out to bigger body of water. Seems in that area it's all sand & absorbs most of the rainfall. Only being able to see from my keyboard that berms going to be a waste of money.

[@jimnorthland2903]

You have no idea what's coming.

[@YaYaPaBla]

Berm, well I’ve learned something new.

[@daisyle1203]

This is done in LA and FL for decades plus raising the houses, nothing new. Flood prone areas insurance companies might require this.

[@ImgoingIan]

Why should I have to use my taxes for your choice to live next to a retention pond? That’s a nice piece of property sure, but you should’ve known the risks to flooding long before Milton, unless they installed it after you moved in, then that’s messed up (I don’t think that’s the case)

[@samuell4775]

? Moved to Florida from North Carolina?

[@lothean2099]

Dont think its high enough

[@rnvrnv354]

Good Deal! Should work real well, just find a big pump rental company in advance of a big storm!

[@DanThomas-n1e]

All they need to do is CAULK AROUND THE DOORS and go in and out through a window for a few days. They can also paint the brick a few feet up with basement paint. BERMS WILL DO NOTHING if its from rain because they are going to get as much rain on one side as the other. Not getting their strategy

[@Ritchie1]

Greg Warmouth is really bad at judging heights….

[@blaydCA]

I hope that's an engineered filled berm so it remains stable. Next step: High Capacity Mud Pump.

[@fhuber7507]

Just common dirt packed by driving over it s it is "tailgated" off the dump trucks will hold for a couple of feet of water. As long as the berm is not sand., in 2 years, it will be pretty solid even without being packed down. The big cost of that I expect was they had it covered in sod instead of seeding. Definitely they need a pump. And hopefully they had a pit or retention pond dug so the water has someplace to go when the pump can't keep up. Or they just made a self filling lake with their house as a semi-submerged island.

[@user-yp6ib3yz4v]

Maybe they can raise the house up some, expensive, but can be done.

[@XXPYR0XX]

why not just build a thick cement wall around it?

[@patrickwhelan5703]

I'm sure the realtor was upfront about elevation and such....You might consider lifting the house as it will only get worse. Do not wait for the county to move on anything. You'll be long dead and buried before Orange County does anything to mitigate flood waters. Frankly, I'm not sure if they know where flood waters originate from.....

[@roadtripper5553]

Wow. They're doing what the county don't have sense to do.

[@kerrylouden4833]

Not so sure that berm won’t be a retention pond!

[@James-ol6rw]

The Home should never have been built there. Clearly there is a need for building location restrictions in this country. Never,ever build on flood plains of rivers and lakes.

[@southerncatlady6680]

That road has still been flooded even last week. The may need to get a pump to pump that water into the berm.

[@b_uppy]

You mean out?

[@southerncatlady6680]

@@b_uppy Out from the house area into the berm that holds the water like a pond.

[@b_uppy]

@@southerncatlady6680 The house has a berm to keep the water _out._

[@southerncatlady6680]

​@@b_uppyNo it doesn't. The berm was built after the house got flooded, so they need to get the water out now.

[@b_uppy]

@southerncatlady6680 After the house was flooded the berm around the house was built. 0:25 shows the two berms. Suggest you watchthe entire video again.

[@musicalchairs56]

I think it's a great idea if it's legal. Some places it wouldn't be legal.

[@bellofthedesert1595]

Always check the elevation and flood zones when purchasing property. Luckily my father - right on the water in Pensacola - is 12 feet up from the water and has never flooded in the entire time he's lived there - over 40 years. Even Hurricane Ivan didn't flood them - and I mean they are right on the intercoastal waterway and can see PNS from their location.

[@bloodlove93]

want something that'll help as much if not more? trees..plant trees,even non invasive clumping bamboo will be fine, twofold reasons, one because the roots themselves will reinforce the soil and prevent erosion, and two because plants need water...put enough plants down and the water will go away. being Florida you can do almost anything, remember you can buy already grown trees online so order,replant and boom instantly you have a 6 ft tree with a giant root system looking for liquid. sugar cane and bamboo are technically grass so they grow rapidly, consider berry bushes too,roots don't need to be super deep,comfrey or pigeon pea also should work. just some suggestions for anyone affected if they happen to see this and need help....let nature fight nature, grow and absorb.... literally.

[@lightclawshadowmarsch8167]

And put the house on top of it raise the ground.

[@rickho69a]

STOP Over BUILDING/DEVELOPMENT ---- Government (Local) Accountability !

[@ginadelsasso288]

Florida needs to step up their coding or stop selling homes that are not storm worthy. Every home in florida should be on stilts by now and just have their carports or garages below the homes. Im so tired of seeing the mountains of trash after every storm. What a waste!

[@jimmeymcgee2840]

Why not take that money and move? You at the lowest point! Your home will still flood your too close to that pond you should have sold instead of building a barrier

[@JohnD6280]

Mosquito hatchery..

[@MrPAULONEAL]

They should add a weeping drain around their house inside the berm.

[@b_uppy]

As their properties is the lowest in the area, where would it weep to? Think their better bet would have been to raise the house. Bet the aquifer is doing great in their area...

[@brock8281]

It's their own fault.

[@mandybradley3079]

Sue realtor. They should have told them about flooding. WTF?

[@dboyette42]

LOL looks like a pond to me. Put a couple feet of dirt under that house lol

[@ronbennett7885]

Yep, raising the house is the better way. Berm creates new problems. And it looks terrible.

[@greenwave819]

@@ronbennett7885 I like how it looks, kinda like an old school castle defense

[@lightclawshadowmarsch8167]

Fill in the pond

[@tyefighter2005]

This gives me another reason not to ever move to Florida.

[@jeffbushnell4910]

Martha lookin good

[@melapelan-l3y]

no one owns property in the US

[@johnnytwotimez]

What they really need is dry wells filled with gravel that extend below the clay cap that stops the surface water from percolating down to the aquifer

[@b_uppy]

Improving soil biology improves percolating. Much cheaper and more reliable, too. Stop adding synthetic chemical fertilizers, weed killers and pesticides. Let lawn revert to native grasses and "weeds," in other words get rid of the grass monoculture surrounding the house. Plant deeper rooted plants like perennials, and some trees, shrubs and vines that are tolerant of moist conditions but also occasional dryness, etc.

[@JoseyWhals]

You dont own it you rent just like everyone else

[@TMarkLenthall]

Lowlander

[@alsetsolar3450]

10s of thousands. Everything costs a lot of money if you can't or wont do anything yourself. Its just dirt

[@rodentcafeteria]

Instead of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on something that may or may not work, why not just move?

[@ducheau100]

cos no one would want to buy it. they could be stuck

[@glyniscoleman4813]

No one wants to buy on that section of the road because it floods my sisters husband's family owns property across the street and have tried to sell it no one will buy it because most people knows it floods

[@onabudget444]

Crying 😂 move then woman

[@christophermillett2273]

Now you're basically in a bowl. Good luck with that.

[@yafois988]

sell it and move to oregon or Nevada.