Question 1

Levees can increase flooding in upstream or downstream by changing the natural flow and volume of a river

Accepted Answer

Levees can increase flooding in upstream or downstream areas by altering the natural flow and volume of a river. When a levee is built along a river, it can reduce the amount of flooding in the immediate area protected by the levee. However, downstream areas may experience increased flooding due to the water being funneled more quickly toward them. In addition, upstream areas may experience increased flooding because the levee restricts the natural spreading of floodwaters, leading to a faster and more intense upstream flow.

Question 2

Chose the best answer to complete the following statement: Wetlands that are located at the edge of the deep water bodies function as a ________________.
A) overlay zone
B) hazard area
C) buffer zone
D) safe area

Accepted Answer

Wetlands located at the edge of deep water bodies act as a buffer zone, helping to protect and filter the water by absorbing excess nutrients and pollutants before they enter the deeper water. This helps to maintain the health of the aquatic ecosystem.

Question 3

Which of the following is not a property protection mitigation measure?
A) Floodproofing
B) Windproofing
C) Seismic retrofit
D) Zoning

Accepted Answer

Zoning is not a property protection mitigation measure, but a land use planning tool that regulates the use of land in a municipality or region. Floodproofing, windproofing, and seismic retrofit are mitigation measures used to protect properties from natural hazards.

Question 4

The International Code Council's (ICC) family of International Codes includes:
A) International Building Code (IBC)
B) International Residential Code (IRC)
C) International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

The International Code Council's (ICC) family of International Codes includes the International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), and International Existing Building Code (IEBC). Therefore, the best choice is D, which includes all of the above codes.

Question 5

Reservoirs are located behind dams and reduce flooding by storing water during peak runoff periods.

Accepted Answer

Reservoirs are indeed located behind dams and serve the purpose of storing water during peak runoff periods to reduce flooding.

Question 6

Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) are taken by federal government to implement large scale projects in the community such as schools, bridges, police stations, recreation centers, and other public facilities.

Accepted Answer

Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) are typically undertaken by local or municipal governments, not the federal government, to plan and fund large-scale community projects.

Question 7

The fifth amendment of the U.S. Constitution ensures that when government wants to purchase land from an individual, it must provide fair and just compensation for that property.

Accepted Answer

The fifth amendment's "Takings Clause" states that government cannot take private property for public use without just compensation.

Question 8

In the United States, majority of the dams are not privately owned.

Accepted Answer

Most dams in the United States are privately owned, with private entities owning about 65% of the nation's dams.

Question 9

Select the answer below that best completes the following statement: Communities can require nonconforming structures to be replaced within a certain time as the former uses become illegal once the structures are replaced or destroyed. This process is called ________________.
A) Overlay zones
B) Mitigation
C) Amortization
D) Eminent Domain

Accepted Answer

The process of requiring nonconforming structures to be replaced within a certain time period as the former uses become illegal once the structures are replaced or destroyed is called amortization. Overlay Zones refer to zoning districts that impose additional regulations on top of underlying zoning regulations. Mitigation refers to actions taken to reduce or eliminate the negative impacts of a project or development. Eminent domain refers to the government's power to take private property for public use with just compensation to the owner.

Question 10

In terms of zoning, one effective method is by down-zoning, which can be accomplished increasing the minimum lot size or reducing the number of dwelling units permitted per acre.

Accepted Answer

Down-zoning is a method of reducing the density or intensity of development in a specific area by increasing the minimum lot size or reducing the number of dwelling units allowed per acre. This can help preserve open spaces, protect the environment, and maintain the character of a neighborhood or community.

Question 11

Which of the following is a sediment-trapping structure?
A) Bulkheads
B) Groins
C) Revetments
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Groins are designed to interrupt longshore sediment transport and cause sediment to accumulate on the updrift side. This creates wider beaches and protects areas from erosion. Bulkheads and revetments are not sediment-trapping structures; bulkheads are vertical walls that protect shorelines from waves and revetments are sloped structures made of material like riprap that absorb wave energy.

Question 12

Which of the following method is used for prioritizing actions using review of benefits and costs?
A) simple listing
B) relative rating
C) simple score
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

All the methods mentioned - simple listing, relative rating, and simple score - can be used for prioritizing actions by reviewing benefits and costs, albeit in different ways and complexities.

Question 13

Chose the best answer to complete the following statement: In the United States, federally regulated lending institutions are required to disclose information to mortgage or other loan applicants whether their property is on a floodplain as shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). But the requirement has to be met only _________ days prior to closing.
A) 5
B) 10
C) 15
D) 20

Accepted Answer

Federally regulated lending institutions are required to provide flood zone information to loan applicants 10 days prior to closing. This requirement ensures that borrowers are informed about the potential flood risks associated with their property before finalizing the loan.

Question 14

Flood retrofitting measures known as 'floodproofing' can be done in two ways- dry and wet.

Accepted Answer

Flood retrofitting measures can indeed be done in two ways, dry and wet, and these methods are commonly known as floodproofing.

Question 15

Which of the following is not usually one of the causes of dam failure?
A) Structural failures
B) Storm events
C) Mechanical failures
D) Hydraulic failures

Accepted Answer

Storm events, such as heavy rainfall, are usually a contributing factor in dam failure but not typically the sole cause. Structural failures, mechanical failures, and hydraulic failures are more commonly the main causes of dam failure.

Question 16

Property acquisition, also known as 'buy out' is the most permanent form of mitigating hazards.

Accepted Answer

Property acquisition involves buying out properties in hazard-prone areas, which permanently removes people and assets from harm's way, making it the most permanent form of hazard mitigation.

Question 17

What was the name of the hypothetical hurricane used as an exercise in 2004 to analyze the impact of catastrophic hurricanes striking the coast of Louisiana?
A) Hurricane Emily
B) Hurricane Sandy
C) Hurricane Pam
D) Hurricane Irene

Accepted Answer

The hypothetical hurricane used in the exercise was named Hurricane Pam.

Question 18

The ________________, pertains to the modern property law requires that private property owners to refrain from using the property in a way that interferes with the rights of adjoining property owners or cause injury to general public.
A) eminent domain
B) law of nuisance
C) zoning law
D) building codes

Accepted Answer

The law of nuisance deals with the use of private property that may harm the rights of adjoining property owners or the general public. Eminent domain refers to the government's power to take private property for public use. Zoning law regulates land use and development within a particular area. Building codes set minimum standards for construction and safety of buildings. Among the given options, only the law of nuisance pertains to private property owners' responsibility towards preventing harm to the public and their neighbors.

Question 19

Chose the best answer to complete the following statement: The ICC "model" building codes are updated every ________________ years to reflect the latest scientific and engineering principles.
A) three
B) four
C) five
D) six

Accepted Answer

The ICC (International Code Council) "model" building codes are updated every three years to incorporate the latest advancements in scientific and engineering principles, ensuring that construction practices remain current and safe.

Question 20

The most common criticism about the structural mitigation projects is that they are very expensive and most of them are technically difficult to build.

Accepted Answer

Structural mitigation projects often require large investments and complex engineering solutions, which can make them expensive and challenging to implement.

Quiz 9: Mitigation Strategies for Natural Hazards

Levees can increase flooding in upstream or downstream by changing the natural flow and volume of a river

Chose the best answer to complete the following statement: Wetlands that are located at the edge of the deep water bodies function as a ________________.

Which of the following is not a property protection mitigation measure?

The International Code Council's (ICC) family of International Codes includes:

Reservoirs are located behind dams and reduce flooding by storing water during peak runoff periods.

Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) are taken by federal government to implement large scale projects in the community such as schools, bridges, police stations, recreation centers, and other public facilities.

The fifth amendment of the U.S. Constitution ensures that when government wants to purchase land from an individual, it must provide fair and just compensation for that property.

In the United States, majority of the dams are not privately owned.

Select the answer below that best completes the following statement: Communities can require nonconforming structures to be replaced within a certain time as the former uses become illegal once the structures are replaced or destroyed. This process is called ________________.

In terms of zoning, one effective method is by down-zoning, which can be accomplished increasing the minimum lot size or reducing the number of dwelling units permitted per acre.

Which of the following is a sediment-trapping structure?

Which of the following method is used for prioritizing actions using review of benefits and costs?

Flood retrofitting measures known as 'floodproofing' can be done in two ways- dry and wet.

Which of the following is not usually one of the causes of dam failure?

Property acquisition, also known as 'buy out' is the most permanent form of mitigating hazards.

What was the name of the hypothetical hurricane used as an exercise in 2004 to analyze the impact of catastrophic hurricanes striking the coast of Louisiana?

The ________________, pertains to the modern property law requires that private property owners to refrain from using the property in a way that interferes with the rights of adjoining property owners or cause injury to general public.

Chose the best answer to complete the following statement: The ICC "model" building codes are updated every ________________ years to reflect the latest scientific and engineering principles.

The most common criticism about the structural mitigation projects is that they are very expensive and most of them are technically difficult to build.