Many millions of dollars are spent annually on storm damage repairs worldwide. Natural disasters are a recurring threat to life and infrastructure today. The frequency and intensity of disasters is increasing. Major storm events commonly lead to widespread flooding, road washouts, numerous failed bridges and culverts, and large and small scale slope failures, particularly on low-volume roads. Fortunately many measures can be undertaken to reduce the vulnerability and prevent or minimize the damage caused by storms. This can be considered Storm Damage Risk Reduction, or “storm proofing” a road. For storm damage prevention, planning for major storm events, sound engineering analysis, the use of roads Best Management Practices, and the application of mitigation measures are needed. Storm damage risk reduction first involves an assessment of any given road, the natural setting, the value of the road, traffic use, and design standards. Roads in areas of high risk, in steep terrain, areas subject to flooding, and those most important should be prioritized for preventative work. Measures to reduce the risk of road damage include keeping the road well maintained and the drainage system functioning; using frequent cross-drain structures; preventing stream diversion; minimizing debris in channels; keeping slopes well vegetated; etc.
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