The Preservation Society of Charleston (PSC) on Wednesday released a more-than 100-page guide to help Charleston residents to improve the resiliency of their individual homes from environmental threats, such as flooding from climate change. Community resilience improves as individuals take charge of ways they can reduce their climate impact, experts say
Titled Resilience Guidance for Charleston, the document is broken down into seven key sections to improve resilience of specific areas of homeowners’ property: landscape, roof systems, exterior wood elements, exterior masonry, windows and doors, building systems and building interiors. Each section contains descriptions of how environmental threats of flooding, high winds, earthquakes and extreme heat — the biggest environmental threats facing Charleston today — can impact that component and how to reduce those impacts.
“This is a wonderful how-to document for how to increase individual resilience to physical hazards, flooding, earthquakes, wind and more,” said Dale Morris, former chief resilience officer for the city of Charleston. “If you have everyone doing that, then the neighborhood and community as a whole is far more resilient.”
While ongoing conversations around resilience in Charleston over the last few years have focused on the government-side of things — look at the Dutch Dialogues and the sea-wall project at the Battery — Morris said it’s equally important for individuals to do their part in increasing resilience.
“It’s not an either-or thing. It’s all of the above,” he said. “Having citizens rely solely upon the government — they’re going to be less resilient overall. That’s just a fact.
“All of these things that individuals can do that really increase the resilience of their homes also increase the resilience of their communities,” he added. “That makes the government’s job a bit easier. If and when a disaster strikes, more resilient areas are likely to need less assistance and intervention post-event.”
The foundation of resilience
In the overview of the guidance, the Preservation Society writes that a property’s maintenance is the foundation of resilience — regular maintenance helps preserve buildings, structures and properties. Sustained maintenance is imperative to protect one’s home from flooding, high winds and earthquakes, it says.
“The idea of maintaining, replacing and rechecking is so important at the home-level for resilience,” Morris said. “That ongoing maintenance is the No.1 aspect for increasing community resilience.”
That’s why the guide starts with a maintenance manual to help people track home conditions over time, problems, tasks and contractors to help keep their property in tip-top shape. The manual is broken down into four categories: general information, property documentation, inspection and maintenance records and property review documentation.
Homeowners will find several helpful checklists and resources to keep track of maintenance and permitting, as well as find trustworthy inspectors to help.
Multiple steps to combat flooding
While several environmental threats are mentioned in the document, flooding remains the top priority for increasing resilience in the Lowcountry. In almost every section of the guidance, there are ways for homeowners to prepare for and recover from flood events, from flooring and windows to external paint.
“Choosing flooring finishes that are easy to clean or repair can save a lot of hassle after a flood event,” said PSC Director of Public Affairs Sam Spence. “Sometimes, older wood floors can even dry out and have less long-term damage than modern materials — consulting with an expert is a lot cheaper than replacing all your hardwoods.”
Windows and doors can be some of the more significant character-defining features of a building, but also offer the most vulnerability, according to PSC Director of Advancement Courtney Theis. That’s why multiple pages are dedicated to different ways to protect these entryways from flooding, including temporary barriers both manufactured and natural.
And building on the maintenance theme earlier in the guidance, keeping up with exterior wood elements can be a great boon against multiple environmental hazards, including flooding.
“Regular maintenance of wood cladding, trim, and porches/piazzas is key to its resilience against water in a damp environment like the low country,” PSC staffer Kerry Campion added. “Wood is known for its resilience in the event of vibrations from earthquakes, and its ability to dry out (given the right conditions). Routine painting, especially of wood that meets the ground, is one of the fastest and most effective ways to protect your exterior wood from water and pest inundation.”
Boost your home’s resilience
While there are several ways to increase the resilience of your home in several areas, there are a few easy ways to boost your home’s resilience against environmental hazards according to the Preservation Society of Charleston:
- Keep up with regular maintenance on your home.
- Prepare for incoming storms by installing barriers (either manufactured or temporary) at doors and windows.
- Start a rain garden, and direct rain toward native plants and plants that are best suited to wetter conditions.
- Remove rust from metal fences, and prime and repaint wooden fences every 5 to 8 years.
- Use nails or foam insulation when replacing clay or concrete tile roofs to minimize edge uplift during strong wind events.
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