A movable tsunami buffer dam has a unit configured such that a plurality of separate units, each of which having a shape in which a frame made of a light material is sandwiched by a pair of plates made of a light material, is stacked with said plates disposed in a pile; and a locking member for locking said unit to a ground surface such that said unit can rise up from said ground surface and collapse onto said ground surface. The separate units has a structure in which water from a tsunami can advance into a space formed between said plates by said frame. A required thickness is ensured due to said unit being configured such that said separate units are stacked, and the manufacturing cost is reduced to a greater extent than in the case of a dam configured from a single separate unit of said required thickness, because the big size lumber for obtaining the units is very expensive. The unit is installed in a state of being collapsed on said ground surface at normal times, and when a tsunami arrives, said unit rising up due to the force of the tsunami and the buoyancy of the seawater, resisting the passage of the tsunami and reducing the power of the tsunami.

The present invention relates to a retractable floodwall system comprising a floodwall panel installed in a housing unit. The floodwall panel is connected with a counter-balance weight. The floodwall panel is capable of being raised from the housing unit and being lowered into the housing unit. The present invention also relates to a method of flood prevention comprising providing a floodwall panel in a housing unit; connecting the floodwall panel with a counter-balance weight; raising the floodwall panel from the housing unit for flood prevention; and lowering the floodwall panel into the housing unit.

An upper level of a multi-level building is guarded from flooding by water present in one of the levels of the building where the upper level is reached from the lower level (or vice versa) by connecting stairs. A flight of stairs bridging the levels is buoyant and pivotally connected to the building at one end of the flight adjacent one of the levels such that on occasion of water rising originating in one of the levels, the flight rotates upward on the axis of the pivot to block water from entering the upper level.

The present invention relates to a retractable floodwall system comprising a floodwall panel installed in a housing unit. The floodwall panel is connected with a counter-balance weight. The floodwall panel is capable of being raised from the housing unit and being lowered into the housing unit. The present invention also relates to a method of flood prevention comprising providing a floodwall panel in a housing unit; connecting the floodwall panel with a counter-balance weight; raising the floodwall panel from the housing unit for flood prevention; and lowering the floodwall panel into the housing unit.

A water supply control system is disclosed that comprises a computer-implemented control system coupled to a plurality of gates, one or more pumps, and a plurality of sensors. The computer-implemented control system is configured to receive a request to transfer excess water from a non-water supply lake to a water supply lake and determine, based at least in part on data from the plurality of sensors and geographic locations of the non-water supply lake and the water supply lake, whether transferring water as requested will cause or worsen a flood event. In response to a determination that transferring water as requested will not cause or worsen a flood event, the computer-implemented control system is further configured to issue a command to cause a gate associated with a dam at the non-water supply lake to open such that water is transferred from the non-water supply lake to the water supply lake.

To provide a floating flap gate that requires an auxiliary force of a counterweight or the like, and in which bending does not occur in a forward end portion of a door body, even in cases in which an installation site has a wide span. A floating flap gate 1 having a forward end portion 2c of a door body 2 that is configured to rotate around a base end portion serving as a fulcrum at a time of a rising water, so as to float upwards, and provided with an upper beam 2d attached to the forward end portion 2c of the door body 2 and a door body suspension member 3 contained within the upper beam 2d, and having two ends each being connected to one end of a wire rope 4. A counterweight 5 is connected to the other end side of the wire rope 4 as a pulling device. Bolts 6b are used as adjusting members interposed between the upper beam 2d and the door suspension member 3, and are inserted into bolt holes 6a provided on an upper surface of the upper beam 2d, so as to exert an opposing force to the tension of the wire rope 4 resulting from the weight of the counterweight 5 acting on the door body suspension member 3, the opposing force being applied uniformly to the upper beam 2d during ordinary use.

An equipment protector including a tubular body extending from a first end to a second. The tubular body is manufactured from a waterproof, collapsible material and has a first diameter. A buoyancy ring is sealingly connected to the first end of the tubular body and defines a through passage. The buoyancy ring has an outer diameter which is larger than the first diameter such that the buoyancy ring extends radially outwardly from the tubular body and is susceptible to a buoyancy force created at the exterior of the tubular body. A method of protecting equipment is also provided.

A self-activating flood barrier includes a chamber (1) having first and second side walls (3, 5), a dam member (9) adapted to self-deploy in the event of a flood to inhibit the passage of water to a region to be protected, and a low-friction device (77, 79) positioned between the dam member and at least one of the first and second side walls of the chamber when the dam member is deployed. The low-friction device prevents jamming between the dam member and the at least one side wall.

This invention provides a disaster prevention system capable of taking an effective measure against a flood disaster. According to one embodiment, a disaster prevention system comprises a weather prediction unit configured to calculate a predicted rainfall in a region based on rainfall information necessary for protecting the region from a flood; an analysis unit configured to determine, based on the predicted rainfall calculated by the weather prediction unit, whether a flood can occur in the region; and a control unit configured to control to close a water stop gate provided in the region to protect the region from the flood if the analysis unit determines that the flood can occur in the region.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the invention is an erosion and storm water control apparatus comprising a hopper portion, an upstream apron, and a downstream apron. The hopper portion may be fabricated from permeable filter fabric and is aided in remaining open by gussets that may be comprised of fabric or other material. The hopper may comprise a self-rising upper edge. The upstream apron may comprise pockets that may be filled with dirt, rocks or the like, and may be buried in an upstream trench, in order to hold the erosion and storm water control apparatus in place during a runoff event, such as during or directly after a thunderstorm. The downstream apron may be fabricated from impervious membrane for anchoring with adhesive, staples, stakes, weights or the like. The invention may comprise handles to assist in the removal of debris and sediment.