Hello World! Welcome Friends! Sandbags are a time-tested method for controlling floodwaters. They’re cheap. They’re versatile. For example, you can lay down an initial layer of sandbags and then build upon it as necessary. You can often enhance your flood protection even as the flood waters rise. However, this is only true if you’re using the sandbags correctly. Let’s learn how to use traditional sandbags correctly.
Prepare the Site
Try to clear the area before you set up a line of sandbags. The sandbags won’t help you if there is a pipe or low spot in the ground. The low spots should be filled in with soil or sandbags before you start laying down your flood-resistant barrier.
Use the Right Type of Bag
You should use burlap or polypropylene sandbags. Other types of bags will break, and then you won’t have a secure, water-proof barrier. For example, you should avoid using trash bags as de facto sandbags. Use a high-grade quality sandbag. Something that will last in sunlight and won’t get moldy. You can also buy unfilled sandbags and fill them up as needed.
Use the Right Filler
Sandbags should be filled with sand. Don’t use gravel, because water can seep through the tiny gaps between the stones. Soil can work in a pinch, but sand does a better job of settling into a watertight seal. Avoid using clay. Avoid mixing materials, since this can result in uneven settling in the sandbag barrier. Unfortunately, people often use whatever filler material is on hand because it can be hard to get dry earth or sand to the worksite when there is a risk of flooding. This is why you can find sandbag alternatives from inflatable dams to “sand bags” filled with water.
Transport & Fill It Properly
Sandbags should not be filled 100 percent unless you’re transporting sand to the destination. Sandbags are most effective when they are filled two-thirds of the way. This makes them easier to carry to their resting place and move into position. Close the unfilled end or flatten them to prevent voids that could let water in. Or use a sandbag carrier specifically made for transferring large amounts of sandbags.
Lay Them Down the Right Way
Sandbag placement is important for an effective flood barrier. The sandbags must be higher than the floodwaters to be effective. Lay the sandbags so that they flow in the same direction as the floodwaters. Unfortunately, they can allow for some seepage. This is why people periodically need to add a second layer of sandbags. And the seepage may erode the sand inside the bags, so the sandbag wall requires constant supervision and maintenance.
Don’t stack the sandbags so that there is space between the sandbags. Check the height of the assembled wall, because you’ll lose the battle once the water is an inch higher than the lowest point on the sandbag wall.
Homeowners often forget the other areas that need to be protected from floodwaters. For example, you are making a mistake if you don’t put sandbags around your doorways. If the flood waters are rising, you may need to add sandbags to your windows. Put sandbags around your home’s drains. If the flood waters enter the drainage pipe for your basement sump pump, your basement will get flooded regardless of the five-foot-high sandbag wall.
More Resources:
- https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/emergency-management/flood-information/sandbags-frequently-asked-questions/
- https://nyp-corp.com/blog/how-to-stack-flood-sandbags/index.html
- http://ntemc.org/documents/disaster_assistance/Flood_Fighting_How_To_Use_Sandbags%20-%20USACE-ARMY.PDF
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