On this episode Wade will walk you through what a breakaway wall is and how it works.  Wade is building a custom home less than 100ft from the ocean in a FEMA flood zone.  The home is being built on 35 concrete piers 14ff above grade. There are several design criteria and structural requirements to build along the ocean in Rhode Island.  As discussed in this episode, the breakaway wall is not required but if the goal is to enclose the ground level of the structure for a better aesthetic, FEMA and the NFIP allows breakaway walls to fill the spaces between the piers.  As Wade says, building them correctly in the event of storm surge is critical to making sure they function properly.  

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