Urban Flooding: Guidance for Homeowners and Renters

This guidance document provides homeowners and renters in urban areas with detailed strategies to reduce flood damage to residential buildings, particularly in flood-prone basements and ground-level units. It covers causes of urban flooding, including stormwater runoff and sewer backups, and offers practical mitigation techniques such as wet floodproofing, elevating equipment, installing backwater valves, and maintaining plumbing systems. The document includes case studies from recent urban flood events, step-by-step instructions for assessing and retrofitting homes, and advice for post-flood cleanup and safety. It is tailored to the context of Cook County, IL, but offers broadly applicable building science guidance for urban flooding scenarios.