# Grand Rapids Company Develops Reusable Flood Barrier After Regional Flooding

Cascade Engineering Partners with City of Grand Rapids and NOAQ to Create Flood Mitigation Tool

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Grand Rapids-based company has developed a new reusable flood barrier following recent flooding that impacted several West Michigan communities.

The City of Grand Rapids, Cascade Engineering and NOAQ have come together to create the flood barrier. Scott Florek, regional sales manager of Cascade Engineering, said the barriers are 33 pounds each and feature an L-shaped design with a carry stick for easy positioning.

Those are 33 pounds a piece. They're easy to maneuver. They are an L shape, so that's why we have that carry stick that will help you kind of position and get into place properly. They're usable, you know, over and over again, with a 10 year product warranty, Florek said.

The flood barrier is available to homeowners for 300 to 350 dollars per unit. Creators hope the tool could help mitigate flood damage in West Michigan communities.

We would encourage homeowners. I know they have their own creative ways of dealing with the flooding themselves. We've talked to a couple different HOAs, that they want to band together as a community and protect the entire neighborhood, Florek said.

Swedish Design Manufactured in Grand Rapids

Cascade Engineering is responding to the need with a Swedish design manufactured in Grand Rapids. The L-shaped barrier uses the weight of rising water to keep it at bay.

As water builds up on the bottom portion, it gets stronger as a flood barrier, Florek described. The damming height is up to 40 inches and the barriers go up to 41. If you go over that, the barriers will stay in place themselves and the water will just go over top, Florek said.

The barriers do not require any tools for assembly and are ready to be sold to local municipalities.

They don't require any tools for assembly, Florek added. They are made right here in Michigan so they comply with the Build American, Buy American Act, Florek added.

Regional Flooding Context

According to the Michigan State Police Flooding Dashboard, there were 38 counties in the lower peninsula alone that were under some sort of flood related state of emergency as of Wednesday.

Florek noted that flooding seems to be increasing more than in the past. Emergency management crews do a good job, but resources are always limited.

Flooding happens everywhere, Florek told News 8. It seems to be increasing more than the past. Emergency management crews do a really good job, but at the end of the day, there is always a limited number of resources available to them, Florek said.

The City of Grand Rapids has already added some barriers to its climate disaster arsenal. Creators are hopeful the tool could help create a more flood resilient community.

People understand that there are alternative solutions to sandbagging, and make sure that we can kind of arm people with the right tools and resources to do their jobs, Florek said.