| Sandbags have long been a primary tool in any flood | | | | with a shovel or spade. The sandbags should not be |
| defence arsenal. They are perhaps not the most | | | | overfilled, halfway is sufficient otherwise they won’t |
| effective measure to prevent flood waters but they | | | | mesh together and water will seep through. The |
| can provide a temporary solution. They are useful for | | | | sandbag doesn’t need to be tied but its worth |
| blocking doorways, drains, vents and for building more | | | | folding the end over to prevent them getting kicked |
| substantial sandbag walls to hold back rivers and rising | | | | over as you fill them. |
| flood waters. | | | | Secondly, when placing sandbags make sure the area |
| | | | is cleared of any rubbish or debris. A ground sheet is |
| Filling sandbags takes time – image FEMA | | | | preferred but this is not always possible. The half-filled |
| Whilst sandbags are a cheap solution for flood | | | | sandbags should be laid lengthways and the bags |
| defence, there are disadvantages to using traditional | | | | should be stacked in layers like a brick-wall with each |
| sand-filled sandbags: | | | | layer overlapping the previous. Pat down the sandbag |
| * They take time to fill – a dozen sandbags will take | | | | wall to ensure there are no gaps otherwise water |
| about an hour to fill | | | | may get through. |
| * They are cumbersome and heavy to handle and | | | | Remember, sandbags are not the most effective |
| transport | | | | flood defence measure. As you can see, they are |
| * The are not biodegradable or very eco friendly | | | | time consuming to fill so they need to be prepared in |
| * It takes two people to fill them properly | | | | advance. Getting access to sandbags and transporting |
| * They are only effective if they are properly filled. | | | | them whilst full can be a logistical nightmare so be |
| Because filling and using sandbags correctly is | | | | prepared as much in advance as you can. |
| important to their effectiveness, it’s essential to get | | | | There are alternatives to the traditional sandbag. |
| it right first time; so here is the correct procedure for | | | | Instant sandbags work in much the same way except |
| filling and utilising sandbags: | | | | the require no sand, require just water to fill, can inflate |
| Firstly, it’s a two man job. One person needs to | | | | in minutes and be stored flat and taken out only when |
| hold the empty sack (sandbag) the other should fill it | | | | needed. |