Is There an Easier Alternative to Sandbags?

11/13/2020 (Permalink)

A Quickdam is five feet long it uses absorbent material that will expand upon contact with water

A sandbag can be a handy item to have in a flood. In Downtown Miami, FL, they’ve been used in the past to save businesses and homes and still have a role today. However, they do come with disadvantages:

• Filling enough bags to build adequate flood dams is extremely laborious.
  
• Building dams incorrectly is a common problem.
  
• Removal is difficult and the bags often absorb toxins.
  
  

What Alternatives Are There?

Many options exist to avoid mass sand bag use. Most literally use water to fight water: you fill them temporarily with water as needed.
Some cover a doorway while others protect a city block. In approximate order of coverage size, they include

• QuickDam
  
• HydraBarrier
  
• AquaDam
  
• AquaFence
  
• Instee Levee Builder
  
  

A Quickdam is five feet long and can be put in front of doors for low floods. It uses absorbent material that will expand upon contact with water and fill an area.
Hydrabarrier is rapidly becoming a favorite. It’s 6-feet long and has a selection of heights available. It couldn’t be simpler to use: you attach a garden hose to it and the form-fitting barricade fills in minutes. Once it’s not needed, it can be cleaned and stored away easily.
Aquadam is designed to protect an entire commercial building. It will typically cost thousands of dollars, but it’s excellent protection for floods that are less than 3 feet deep at your building envelope. It should be considered mandatory for buildings in a flood plain.
Aquafence and Instee Levee Builder are ideal for either massive operations or community organizations. Expect them to cost 6 figures, but they can save on insurance premiums and get a business reopened in days, not weeks.

What If Your Sand Bag Dam Fails?
Flood damage can wipe out a business. Flood insurance is expensive and isn’t included in standard commercial insurance.
If some water has caused minor damage, a well-known and trusted licensed restoration company can fix that easily. For major damage, they’ll bring in a full team of technicians to tarp and board and get you reopened quickly.