Sandbags & Sand

About Sandbagging

Sandbagging is an flood prevention technique that's simple, but still effective. If the bags are not filled and stacked properly, though, they will be useless.

Here are some tips and steps for the most effective way use sandbags:

• Only use sand in the bags: Dirt and potting soil are not a suitable replacement for filling the bags. When wet, the sand hardens but it's still pliable enough to mold into the shape needed to build a water-blocking structure.

• Try to use coarse sand: If possible, avoid using fine sand. Coarse sand will hold its shape better, while fine sand can silt and drain from the bag, making it easier to deflate.

• When building a sandbag wall, it's crucial for the bags to shape around each other tightly: When the bags are too full, it tends to form a firm exterior that doesn't shape together. The bag, when filled, should lie fairly flat, overfilled bags are firm and don't nestle into one another; tight bags make for a leaky sandbag wall.

• Stagger the sandbags on top of one another: The bags need to mold into one another to effectively prevent floodwaters from penetrating the sandbag wall. It's also important to tuck the seal of the bag underneath, so the weight of the bag helps to keep it closed.

• Set up your sandbags before flooding is anticipated: It is not safe to tread through floodwaters. Even if you feel like you're familiar with the area, you never know how deep the water is or the hazards that can be underneath the water.

​​​​​Sandbags placed correctly around your home or business may lower the impact of flooding by reducing the amount of water entering your property.