With thousands of homes being victim to wildfires in San Diego County, it is sometimes hard to see the effects of a deadly fire past the impending flames. In the fire’s aftermath, the threat of floods and erosion increases and can be disastrous for your home and property. The plants and vegetation whose roots help stabilize soil can become damaged or completely destroyed, leaving loose soil vulnerable to erosion and runoff. Erosion can destroy your landscaping and gardens, and can promote polluted runoff into storm drains and surrounding property. Fortunately, there are many ways to protect your home from post-fire hazards.
Ideally, you would want to prevent the effects of erosion by immediately re-planting the areas that have been destroyed. Also, by incorporating a well-planned landscape design that utilizes drainage systems, stone retaining walls and stone rip rap. KRC Rock has all the materials you need to permanently address any flood and erosion issues. However, if you’re looking for a temporary solution, San Diego County has provided some tips that can help protect your home:
Hydraulic Mulching: Hydraulic mulching consists of applying a mixture of shredded wood fiber to a hydraulic matrix. Mulching temporarily protects exposed soil from erosion by raindrop impact or wind.
Fiber Roll: Fiber rolls consist of straw, flax, or other similar materials bound into a tight tubular roll. When placed at the toe and on the face of slopes, these devices intercept runoff, reduce its flow velocity and provide removal of sediment from runoff. Fiber rolls are only effective when trenched.
Silt Fences: Silt fences are made of a filter fabric that has been entrenched, attached to supporting poles, and sometimes backed by a plastic or wire mesh for support. These fences are good for perimeter control, detaining sediment-laden water and promoting sedimentation behind the fence.
Straw Matting: Straw matting is used to cover the soil surface to reduce erosion from rainfall impact, hold in place, and absorb and hold moisture near the soil surface. Matting is commonly applied to short steep slopes where erosion hazard is high and vegetation will be slow to establish.
Straw or Wood Chip Mulching: Straw or wood chips can be used to hold soil in place.
Sand and Gravel Bags: Properly filled sandbags are useful for redirecting storm water and debris away from home and property. They are effective when stacked in a pyramid formation to act as a temporary wall. Gravel bags are similar to sand bags except they are made of burlap and filled with small rocks. Gravel bags are useful for erosion preventions when placed on the face of a slope, as the storm water will pass through the bag while trapping the sediment behind it.
KRC Rock is pleased to be a resource to the residents of San Diego County for all natural stone solutions for protection against fire and post-fire hazards. For more information visit the County of San Diego website for specific zoning requirements and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more tips and do-it-yourself solutions.
