About Sandbags

Sandbags can protect your home or business should a significant amount of water threaten to take over. They are inexpensive, easy to fill and relatively easy to position, making them one of the best items on the market when it comes to flood protection.

Function

• Sandbags, when filled and placed properly, will divert water from heavy rains or flooding away from your home, business or other indoor establishment. They do this by acting as a barrier that redirects the flow of water away from structures. Sandbags should be packed tightly on top of each other in the shape of a pyramid. The pyramid shape distributes the sand's weight, thereby reinforcing the sandbag's structure and strength against a rapid-flowing current of water.

Size

• The bags are filled with sand until they are at approximately one-third to one-half of their capacity. This allows the bags to be both function and practical, as sandbags that are filled with too much sand will become difficult to carry, tie shut and position within the pyramid. Filling the bags with at least a third of sand, however, will ensure that they are heavy and large enough to prevent water from penetrating the pyramid. A normal sandbag should weigh approximately 30 lbs.

Types

• Most sandbags that are used by homeowners are plain burlap sacks. These can be purchased from home improvement or hardware stores, and can be stored in a safe place if you live in a neighborhood where flooding is common. Sandbags can also be made of polypropylene, which is a plastic polymer. These bags are typically used to protect commercial structures. The "sand" inside the bags is usually composed of wet soil, actual sand, damp dirt or any other portable, heavy landscaping material that may be nearby. It is not recommended that you use any surface material that may contain large or pointy rocks, as they can tear a hole in the sandbags. If you don't have time to find another filler, use whatever landscaping material you have nearby, just be sure to double bag the sandbag to cut down on the numbers of leaks and tears.

Considerations

• It takes two people to fill and position sandbags. One person should hold the bag open, with the bottom of the bag resting on the floor and the lid of the bag folded over to provide some type of grip or handle. It is easiest to do this with your feet spread far apart. The other person will begin shoveling the landscaping material into the bag, being careful not to hit the person holding the bag with the shovel. Once the bag has been properly filled, the bag's flaps are folded, tucked or tied under it before it is placed into the pyramid.

Geography

• People who live in the Pacific Northwest receive a significant amount of rain every year. Therefore, it is advisable that Washington and Oregon residents store a few empty sandbags in their homes. The eastern coastline of the United States is subject to numerous hurricanes every year, and states that border the Atlantic Ocean, from Texas to Maine, should also store sandbags in their homes. Those living within a close proximity to a lake, ocean, dam or major body of water may also want to keep a few sandbags on hand. Many governmental agencies also provide sandbags to homeowners, so be sure to check with your local agency to see how you can obtain them before a storm, flood or hurricane hits. Try not to rely wholly on outside agencies to assist you, however, as they may maintain a limited supply of sandbags for a large area of people.