Flooding causes more damage to buildings throughout the United States — particularly residential buildings than any other single natural event. Researchers at 91°µÍø have found through tests that damage to homes from future flooding can be minimized through repair or renovation using flood damage-resistant materials and methods. For example, some currently available but nonstandard building materials, such as closed-cell foam insulation, were tested and were found to have desirable flood-damage resistant properties. Other, more conventional materials were found to perform better than expected. The studies suggest that the complete replacement of water-damaged building materials may not always be necessary. ORNL conducted the research in collaboration with Tuskegee University in Alabama, a state that recently experienced its own high water problems associated with Hurricane Ivan.