Raising

Your Home

One way to protect a home from flooding is to elevate it to a specified Flood Protection Elevation (FPE). This means raising the living space high enough to avoid damage from all but the most extreme flood events. There are several techniques available to elevate a home, and the right method will depend on the structure, location, and flood risk.

ELEVATING A HOUSE: WHAT TO KNOW

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) there are two main ways to elevate a home:

(1) Lift the entire house and build a new foundation underneath it, or add to the existing foundation to support the raised structure.

(2) Keep the house at its current elevation and raise the floor inside, or add a new upper story.

Each method raises the home’s living space above potential flood levels. The best approach depends on several factors, including how much elevation is needed to reduce flood risk, the condition and design of the building, available contractors, and overall cost.

Simplified diagram of an elevated house with flood openings.

Simplified diagram of an elevated house with flood openings. Source: FEMA

The sections below outline the general steps involved in common home elevation techniques. While every project is different, this overview is designed to give a high-level understanding of what each approach typically involves—helping to demystify the process and support more informed decision-making.

  • For houses on basement foundations or crawlspace foundations:

    1. Evaluate the existing foundation to determine whether it will support the elevated house

    2. Obtain necessary permits

    3. Turn off utility services and disconnect utility lines

    4. Excavate around the foundation as necessary to install lifting beams and, if required, to strengthen the foundation

    5. Cut holes in the foundation and house walls as necessary to install the network of lifting beams

    6. Raise house with jacks

    7. Extend foundation walls to desired height and install wall openings to allow flood waters to enter

    8. Lower house onto extended foundation walls, reconnect utility lines, and restore utility services

    1. Evaluate the existing foundation to determine whether it will support the elevated house

    2. Obtain necessary permits

    3. Turn off utility services and disconnect utility lines

    4. Excavate around the foundation as necessary to install lifting beams and, if required, to strengthen the foundation

    5. Cut holes in foundation and house walls as necessary to install the network of lifting beams

    6. Rase house with jacks

    7. Build piers on existing or modified foundation; extend piers to desired height

    8. Lower house onto piers, reconnect utility lines, and restore utility services

    1. Obtain necessary permits

    2. Turn off utility services and disconnect utility lines

    3. Excavate around the foundation and cut holes in the foundation and house walls as necessary to install the network of lifting beams

    4. Raise house with jacks

    5. Demolish and remove existing foundation; install posts or columns with concrete pads or encasements

    6. Lower house onto posts or columns

    1. Obtain necessary permits

    2. Turn off utility services and disconnect utility lines

    3. Excavate around the foundation and cut holes in the foundation and house walls as necessary to install the network of lifting beams

    4. Raise house with jacks and move it offsite to a temporary location

    5. Demolish and remove existing foundation; install the pilings

    6. Move the house back to the site and lower it onto the pilings

    7. Reconnect utility lines and restore utility services

  • For masonry houses built on slab-on-grade foundations, the steps are:

    1. Evaluate the existing foundation to determine whether it will support the elevated house

    2. Obtain necessary permits

    3. Turn off utility services and disconnect utility lines

    4. If necessary, strengthen the existing foundation

    5. Remove the roof and framing

    6. Extend the walls to the desired height and replace the roof framing and the roof

    7. Construct a new lowest floor at the desired elevation

    8. Install wall openings of the abandoned first floor to allow flood waters to enter

    9. Reconnect utility lines and restore utility services

    1. Evaluate the existing foundation to determine whether it will support the elevated house

    2. Obtain necessary permits

    3. Turn off utility services and disconnect utility lines

    4. If necessary, strengthen the existing foundation

    5. Remove the roof and framing

    6. Build a new second story (wood-frame, metal-frame, or masonry)

    7. Replace the roof framing and the roof

    8. Install wall openings in the walls of the abandoned first floor to allow flood waters to enter.

    9. Reconnect utility lines and restore utility services.

FOR HOMEOWNERS: HOME ELEVATION ASSISTANCE

There are several funding programs that can help cover the cost of elevating houses or reducing flood risk. Most are in the form of grants, and eligibility varies. These programs can change over time, so it’s important to check funders’ websites for the most current information and application details.

USDA Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant

The Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant program, offered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), provides funding to very-low and low-income homeowners to repair homes damaged by disasters in 2022 (Presidential Disaster Declaration 3586, declared October 1, 2022, includes Carteret County). Grants are available year-round until funds run out. The maximum award is $44,000.

To learn more or apply, contact the local NC Rural Development Area Office in Kinston:

  • Director: Aaron Gaskins

  • Phone: 252-526-9799

  • Email: aaron.gaskins@usda.gov

  • Address: 2044-C Hwy 11/55 South, PO Box 6180, Kinston, NC 28501-0189

USDA Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants in Presidentially Declared Disasters Pilot

The pilot Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants in Presidentially Declared Disasters program provides loans and grants to repair homes damaged by Presidentially declared disasters that occurred on or after July 18, 2022. The maximum loan amount is $40,000 (20 year loan term at 1 percent fixed interest). The maximum grant amount is $15,000. Loans and grants can be combined for up to $55,000 in assistance.

To begin the grant or loan application process, contact the local NC Rural Development Office in Kinston (information to left) and provide the following:

FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT: FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

North Carolina Resilience Exchange

The North Carolina Resilience Exchange is a state-supported hub for resilience-related resources, from data to planning tools to a searchable database of funding opportunities. Local governments can also find support for grant writing and connect with experts on topics ranging from flooding to community planning.

To stay informed, users can subscribe to the Spotlight on Resilience newsletter, which provides updates on new funding opportunities, local initiatives across the state, and other relevant resources.