Flood vents are specialized openings designed to allow the free flow of water in and out of enclosed areas during a flood event. The primary purpose of flood vents is to equalize hydrostatic pressure on both sides of a building's foundation walls, reducing the risk of structural damage caused by the buoyancy force of floodwaters. These vents are a vital component of wet floodproofing strategies.
Wet floodproofing is permitted for non-habitable structures below the base flood elevation for minimal storage, building access, or parking.
