Folly floods, and everyone who lives here knows it. The question is what you are protecting and how.
Elevated houses change the problem
Because homes here stand on pilings, tidal flooding usually passes underneath rather than into living space — which is exactly what that design is for. What still needs protecting is anything at ground level: storage below the house, a ground-floor utility area, or an enclosure holding equipment.
Salt water is harder on pumps
A pump handling brackish flood water corrodes faster than one dealing with rainwater. Specifying something suited to that, rather than the cheapest available, is the difference between a pump that works next season and one that does not.
Backup power is essential here
Storm surge and power cuts arrive together on a barrier island. A pump with no battery backup is off at precisely the moment the water is rising.
Test before hurricane season
Pour a bucket into the pit and check it starts, clears and stops cleanly. If it hums without pumping, sort it in June rather than discovering it in September.