Jamaica: Port Maria and Bliss Pastures
Numerous low-income areas of Jamaica are subject to severe repetitive seasonal flooding. Lacking adequate government support, these communities require a flood mitigation strategy that is both affordable and simple to implement.
The communities of Port Maria and Bliss Pastures, Jamaica are two communities that are significantly impacted by seasonal flooding. Flooding in these areas causes significant damage to homes and creates significant health risks due to overflowing open-pit latrines. Despite repetitive flood damage, Jamaicans continue to live in these flood-prone communities. Amphibious retrofit is a cost-sensitive way to keep inhabitants and their possessions safe from flooding.
Utilizing cost-effective, locally available materials and local construction practices was a primary consideration in developing the buoyant foundation retrofit designs for the selected houses. The assembly consists of several elements: there are buoyancy blocks composed of expanded polystyrene below the existing floor structure, and a plywood structural substrate that reinforces the existing structure and provides support for the buoyancy blocks. There is a vertical guidance system that uses low-cost, readily available timber telephone poles to prevent any lateral movement of the house as it rises, floats and descends.
Buoyant foundation retrofits can be affordable for people of limited means. When compared to the potential cost of relocating and repairing flood damage, buoyant foundation retrofits are a low-cost, low-environmental impact solution.
