Flood control

Geo-TH,In · Sep 8, 2016

After the flood in 2008, 10 inches rain in 24 hours I was lucky. Water from the 40 acre field came across the road and headed towards the basement window. Good thing the window didn't break, but it made muddy mess in basement. That's when I decided it would never happen again, I removed tons of dirt in yard so water can run away from house instead of towards the house. My little river goes around the house and finds it's way to the gravel pit 30 feet below yard. Water drains to the left in pic. Can't see the water coming from the house, but you can get an idea how much water I got in just a few minutes. Ground is clay and water runs faster than it soaks in.

The pole barn was built on the highest point in the yard. Both sides of the barn drain into the river system.

We just got a down pour. I took a pic from the bedroom window to show how my flood control works. Basement will never get flooded again. Barn stays dry too.
geo

larry@stinescorner · Sep 8, 2016

did you do that with the terramite?

JML755 · Sep 8, 2016

About 15 yrs ago, sister and BIL bought a house on 10 acres with a creek (county drain) that ran along the property line about 100' from the side of the house. They built a pole barn (36x72) between the creek and house, about 30' from the creek bank. BIL told the contractor he thought the pole barn should be higher. Contractor said "nah, you're fine". Lo and behold before the barn was finished we got a major flood in the area that overflowed the creek. Contractor had put about 75 yds of fill sand inside the barn in preparation for pouring the slab floor and just about all of it washed out and into their pasture area. It was argued between them if the water would have been above the slab. Anyway, they replaced the sand, finished the barn and it's been fine since. However, my BIL did kind of what you did: he built a berm on the up-flow side of the pole barn and put in some homemade drainage to direct the water if it ever floods again.

Geo-TH,In · Sep 8, 2016

Yes, terramite. Handy toy.

1970-1655 · Sep 8, 2016

We have a little ditch that runs from the county road across our back yard. Water has never been up much in my life time (67 years) until a neighbor up the road decided the water should not run across his property any more so he diverted it. It now runs down a county road 1/2 mile, turns onto another county road 1/8 mile where it now dumps in the little ditch behind us. In 2007, we got 10" in just over 30 minutes but 3/4-1 mile in any direction, they only got an inch. All that water got door knob high on our walk-out basement door. County refuses to do anything about diverting the natural flow of water. About a month ago, we got a heavy rain again but was spread over 3 hours so water only got about 8" on the outside of the door and none came in this time.

2008 is when Columbus Indiana area got that major flooding too. I had just retired so I spent the next 2 weeks helping clean up and rebuild.

1970-1655 · Sep 8, 2016

George: Did you work at Hapco several years ago? I had some work done there and a man named George was pretty helpful.

Geo-TH,In · Sep 8, 2016

No. I grew up on a dairy farm in Knox, In. I graduated HS in 67, came to Terre Haute to attend college. Got a degree and wasn't smart enough to leave town. To pay my way through college I took a break and worked hating and air conditioning at Bethlehem Steel, Burns Harbor, In. Retired 12 years ago. Bought tractors and backhoe play in gravel pit for fun.
geo

Flood control

Geo-TH,In

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larry@stinescorner

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JML755

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Geo-TH,In

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1970-1655

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1970-1655

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Geo-TH,In

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