FloodBreak safeguarding a Louisiana Community from Flash Flooding

Client

St. Tammany Parish

Location

Slidell, Louisiana

Installation Date

2020

Product

35'4"x4" Floodgate

Background

In May 2020, a FloodBreak vehicular floodgate was installed at the entrance to a sub-division in St. Tammany Parish, Slidell, Louisiana. The project’s primary objective was to safeguard the community from flooding—a recurring issue in the area due to its low-lying geography – while providing full vehicular access to residents during sunny day conditions. The passive automatic flood gate was installed as a closure device in the perimeter levee system to protect the residential neighborhood from flooding and lies hidden beneath the road surface until self -activated by approaching floodwaters. When the floodwaters recede, the gate automatically returns to the rest position. No people or power is required.

Solution

FloodBreak has many other passive floodgates protecting people and property in Louisiana but this gate is the first of its kind in the State of Louisiana installed in a residential neighborhood. The 35’ x 4’ floodgate spans the roadway opening in the earthen berm and when deployed meets the DFE of the levee system. It is designed to support hydrostatic loading to the top of the barrier and vehicular loads corresponding to AASHTO HS-25.

To enhance safety, the gate is equipped with RR crossing arms and warning lights that are activated when the gate begins to deploy. Extending levees across roadways is an often-used application of vehicular-rated FloodBreak floodgates. The gates have been used in large infrastructure projects like IBWC along the Rio Grande and perimeter flood defenses for other residential communities such as Wagon Wheel in CA, Graue Mill in IL and Tavola in TX.

Results

FloodBreak has many other passive floodgates protecting people and property in Louisiana but this gate is the first of its kind in the State of Louisiana installed in a residential neighborhood.

The installation of the gate reflects proactive measures taken by the Parish to enhance its flood resilience, particularly important with increasingly frequent and severe weather events. A video interview with our Field Service Director, Gary Stanizeski, featured on the local Slidell news, highlights the gate’s strategic importance and the collaborative efforts involved in bringing this flood protection to their community.

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