A surge barrier is almost always part of a larger flood protection system consisting of floodwalls, levees (also known as dikes), and other constructions and natural geographical features.
Its purpose is to prevent London from being flooded by exceptionally high tides and storm surges moving up from the North Sea.
In 2007 the United States Army Corps of Engineers started construction of an ambitious project that aimed to prevent storm surges from flooding the city by 2011.
The IHNC Lake Borgne Surge Barrier on the confluence of these waterways[1] is the largest in the United States.
The nearby Fox Point Hurricane Barrier protects the city of Providence, Rhode Island.
The US Army Corps of Engineers also owns and operates the hurricane barrier at Stamford, CT.[3] The MOSE Project is intended to protect the city of Venice, Italy, and the Venetian Lagoon from flooding.