A Variety of Techniques Used to Limit Flood Damage

4/18/2022 (Permalink)

Sandbags are heavy and labor-intensive.

If you have ever worked to stop a flood, you might have some strong feelings about the ubiquitous sandbag. After all, this method of stopping high waters has been in use for well over a century, and it has many benefits. It is cheap and inexpensive and it forms a strong barrier to incoming water. On the negative side, though, sandbags are heavy and labor-intensive; if you have spent hours stacking them you completely understand this fact. For best results, the bags should be filled about half full and left untied at the top, though folded over. This makes them easier to lift and stack tightly.

Alternatives to the Sand Bag

If sand is not widely available, the bags can be filled with silt, which works nearly as well. Clay is an even more effective substance for flood dams, but it is notoriously difficult to put into bags, a nearly fatal flaw. Several other alternatives are in use during floods:

• The Hesco Bastion barrier requires heavy equipment and trained installers
  
• The Portadam which has been tested by the Army Corps of Engineers
  
• The Rapid Deployment Flood Wall showed lower seepage rates than sandbags
  
  

A company can also install more permanent barriers. These options include levees and earth berms which seek to divert water away from a building.

Options for Containing Flood Damage
If the water is just too high, your company in La Marque, TX, is likely to take on water. At this point, it is advisable to call in the services of a trained water mitigation team. The company will have a proven process to deal with water damage quickly and efficiently, working to limit the impact on your company and its bottom line. They will quickly remove any standing water, dry out saturated areas and clean surfaces tainted with dirty floodwaters. Both the low-tech sandbag and the advanced skills of a restoration team could play a role in protecting your company.