Hope House (Flood Safety House)
Problem: Floods and Tsunamis are one of the most dangerous natural disasters on Earth, affecting millions of people every single year, especially people who live near oceans or certain bodies of water. When a flood is created it can sweep away people's food, house, cars, etc. Many communities do not have access to a flood proof house which increases the risk of danger amongst them.
Solution: To decrease the risk of this problem I have created a flood proof house which provides a temporary shelter for people whose house has been flushed away by the floods.
What the Flood Proof House contains: As you can see in my image, I have created a Flood Proof House capable of surviving the harshest of floods. My flood proof house consists of an elevated concrete structure to stay above rising water, a water pump system to remove excess water, a strong foundation, emergency food and water storage, safe upper-level living spaces, Ladder access and rooftop safety zone, an antenna for communication during emergencies with a light bulb, Solar Panels to power house, and a Helipad.
Detailed explanation of the features:
1) The elevated structure is supported by seven pillars that have been pierced into the bedrock for added support.
2) The water pump helps to extract excess water that may have accumulated due to rain or flood.
3) On each floor, emergency food and supplies have been included to help occupants survive the flood.
4) For sense of comfort, beds, couches, and bathrooms have been included on each floor.
5) In case the stairs and elevators get obstructed, I have added ladders connecting to each floor to ensure that the people exit safely.
6) A rooftop antenna has been added for backup communication.
7) Five powerful solar panels have been included to ride through power outages.
8) Right in the middle of the rooftop, a flashing beacon light has been added to guide helicopters.
9) A red and yellow helipad provides a safe landing for the helicopter when it is dark and low visibility.
Supplies
3D Design Software: I used Tinkercad to create the model.
Amenities included in the house:
Solar Panels
Unisex Bathroom
Beds
Helipad
Ladders
Evacuation Doors
Water Pump
Elevated Concrete Beams
Antenna
Flashing Beacon Light
Research
As a swimmer, I recognize how difficult it is to stay afloat in water for extended periods of time, so I always thought about the challenges people face during floods. When I continued my research, I found that there are several reasons why houses in America are not able to withstand floods. These reasons range from government regulations to economics of building houses. Therefore, I wanted to understand what it would take to build a flood safe house.
Sources:
Flooding threatens millions of Americans, yet many keep building homes in floodplains - CBS News
Recovery Failure: Why we struggle to rebuild for the next storm - OPB
Futureproof Your Home: A Complete Guide to Flood-Resistant Design - Trusscore
Making a Flood-Proof House: 10 Essential Tips | Angi
Basement Foundation Build: Every Step Revealed
How to Build a Flood-Proof House! 🌊 #Engineering #Construction
3D Design
I used Tinkercad to design my version of a flood proof house. I started out with three floors and three strong support beams on each side with one in the middle, giving the structure stability during a flood. Once the basic structure was completed, emergency rations, sanitation, and bedding were included to comfort and keep occupant's calm. Finally, safety redundancies such as solar panels, ladders, water pump, communication antenna, beacon light and helipad were added.
Thank You
I thank Tinkercad and Autodesk for giving me an opportunity to participate in this initiative. This research project has not only helped me to improve my design skills but has also helped me to gain a life lesson needed in case of a natural disaster.