FAQ
Glossary
Facility Locator
What's New
Site Help
Index A-Z
Contact Us
Email Updates
Report a Safety Concern
Search for:
Nuclear Reactors
Power Reactors
Research & Test Reactors
Operating Reactors
New Reactors
Operator Licensing
Research Activities
Nuclear Reactor Quick Links
Nuclear Materials
Special Nuclear Material
Source Material
Byproduct Material
Med, Ind, & Academic Uses
Radium
Uranium Recovery
Fuel Cycle Facilities
Materials Transportation
Research Activities
Nuclear Materials Quick Links
Radioactive Waste
Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities
Low-Level Waste
Waste Incidental to Reprocessing
High-Level Waste
Uranium Mill Tailings
Low-Level Waste Disposal
High-Level Waste Disposal
Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Research Activities
Radioactive Waste Quick Links
Nuclear Security
Domestic Safeguards
Information Security
Radioactive Material Security
Required Reporting for Clearance Holders
Insider Threat Program for Licensees
Criminal History & Firearms Checks
Contact Us
Public Meetings & Involvement
The NRC Approach to Open Government
About Meetings Open to the Public
Conferences & Symposia
Documents for Comment
NRC Rules and Petitions
Facilitating Stakeholder Involvement
NRC Information Quality Guidelines
Subscribe to E-mail Updates
Commission Schedule
Public Meeting Schedule
Adjudications (Hearings)
Adjudicatory Submissions
NRC Library
Basic References
Document Collections
ADAMS Public Documents
Public Document Room
LSN Library
FOIA & Privacy Act
Photos & Videos
Records Management
Training Courses
FAQ Index
Get Copies of Documents
Withholding of Sensitive Information
Controlled Unclassified Information Program (CUI)
Electronic Hearing Docket
About NRC
The Commission
Organization & Functions
Governing Legislation
Plans, Budget, & Performance
Locations
History
Values
Direction-Setting & Policymaking
Research Activities
Radiation Protection
Fire Protection
Safety Culture
How We Regulate
Emergency Preparedness & Response
Public Affairs
Congressional Affairs
Enforcement
International Programs
State & Tribal Programs
Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs
Privacy Program
Civil Rights
Contact Us
Career Opportunities
Contracting Opportunities
Small Businesses
Grant Opportunities
Generic Schedules
Other Links
Other Links
FAQ
Glossary
Facility Locator
What's New
Site Help
Index A-Z
Contact Us
Email Updates
NRC Facebook
NRC Twitter Feed
NRC Linkedin
NRC Youtube Channel
NRC Flickr Gallery
NRC Blog Archived
NRC Email Subscriptions - GovDelivery
Print
Home
Nuclear Reactors
Operating Reactors
Reactor Safety Information Topics
Japan Lessons Learned (ARCHIVED)
Flooding Reevaluations
Flooding Sources and Protection
On this page
Potential Flooding Sources
Plant Protection Options
Potential Flooding Sources
Storm Surge: An increase in water levels greater than that normally associated with tides. Typically associated with a hurricane, storm surge occurs when the storm's winds push ocean water onshore. High tides during a hurricane's landfall can enhance storm surge effects
Dam Failure: The failure of an upstream dam, releasing the reservoir contents.
Heavy Rainfall: An unusually high precipitation event from a storm over a particular drainage area. Can impact the site directly or through the flooding of a nearby river.
Tsunami: The sudden displacement of a body of water (such as from an undersea earthquake) that generates an unusually large amplitude wave that becomes even larger when reaching land.
Seiche: A rise in water levels created by wind-action or similar weather effects acting on an enclosed or semi-enclosed body. The water level rises when the water surface oscillates, or sloshes, in response to wind.
Ice Dam: Naturally-occurring dams appearing on rivers and streams adjacent to a site can cause flooding in two ways: (1) a collapsing upstream ice dam can cause floodwaters at a site; or (2) a downstream ice dam can permit surface water to collect and back up onto the site.
Printable Version
Plant Protection Options
Sandbags and/or Inflatable berms: Temporary watertight barriers that would be installed in advance of a flood, designed to keep the site dry.
Pumps: Both temporary and permanent pumps can alleviate the effects of flooding by removing water from the site.
Site Drainage: A site's design can reduce or even prevent flooding by directing floodwaters away from vital power plant areas. Drainage systems can be either man-made (drains) or natural (grading).
Permanent Flood Walls: Man-made structures primarily designed to prevent floodwaters from entering a power plant site. These walls, built from engineered and / or natural materials, can also reduce flood effects associated with erosion, wave action, and debris flow.
Plant Elevation: Permanently increasing the elevation of a power plant's site during construction helps to ensure potential flooding sources are less likely to affect the site.
Watertight Doors: Specially-designed doors, similar to those found in submarines, to keep floodwaters away from vital reactor systems and equipment, such as emergency diesel generators.
Printable Version
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, April 28, 2015