Superstorm Sandy inundated the hallowed caverns of lower Manhattan and caused enough personal and financial disruption elsewhere in the city and region to spawn a boom in flood-resiliency efforts. As a consequence, the engineering community has been tasked with delivering cost-effective resiliency solutions for assets that range from single-family homes to entire cities. The foundation of flood damage prevention efforts lies at the local level, and a number of relatively low-cost solutions exist to reduce flood damages and associated claims. Here are eight practical ways to reduce the impact of the next major flood event.

1. Seal the envelope

The vast majority of assets within the floodplain are existing structures. Raising entire structures, while feasible and cost-effective for smaller facilities, is not usually an option. The dry flood-proofing industry, which has grown considerably in the past few years, provides cost-effective solutions for sealing a structure's envelope against floodwaters. Products now exist to make all building openings watertight, including flood-resistant windows, doors and louvers. Likewise, timber and masonry exteriors can be sealed to prevent the entry of floodwaters. Of course, even a well-sealed structure is at risk: As water rises and pools outside of a building, it introduces the possibility of overloading the walls. A structural engineering industry has grown to meet this potential problem, almost always presenting cost-effective solutions.

2. Prevent "back door" entry

The world was introduced to the dirty little secret of flood inundation in an episode of Netflix's hit series, Orange is the New Black, which is set in a women's prison. It chronicled the arrival of a major hurricane and its impact on the fictional inmates' flooded dorms. While the storm raged outside, the incarcerated ladies were enjoying the warm and dry conditions of their facility (if you can actually "enjoy" being in prison — but I digress), when the toilets and sinks erupted with floodwaters. This event illustrated the phenomenon of flood inundation through utility conduits. All unpressurized utilities are vulnerable, including sewer, telephone and electric conduits. Thankfully, the fix is simple and inexpensive, whether or not you're behind bars. Install a backflow preventer — a small, off-the-shelf device — and the problem is solved.