Flood Protection

What is Flood Protection?

Floods can be caused by many different factors: heavy rainfall, highly accelerated snowmelt, severe winds over water, unusually high tides, tsunamis, failures of dams, levees, dikes, retention basins or other structures that retain water. Complete cities, city areas or private property owners can install TrapBag® Flood Barriers for creating temporary or semi-permanent flood protection against these type of flood events.

Read More

Related Projects

TrapBag's sea turtle safe solution

Erosion Mitigation During Sea Turtle Season – Volusia County, Florida

May 9, 2023

Flood Protection Swift Current Creek

Springtime Flooding Caused by Snowmelt in Saskatchewan

April 11, 2023

riverbank stabiliation project carson city

Riverbank Stabilization Project Carson City, Nevada

May 20, 2021

Learn more about our solutions.

What can I use instead of sandbags for flood protection?

TrapBag® Flood Barriers uses 40% less fill material than a stacked sandbag wall, but more importantly one 100 foot section of 4 foot high TrapBag® replaces approximately 8,000 sandbags making TrapBag® Flood Barriers an excellent alternative to small and large sandbags. 

TrapBag® is a series of pentagon-shaped bags that are sloped on one side, vertical on the opposite side, and open at the top for filling. Each of the cells are connected side by side like an accordion, each cell has a common wall with the next cell, and are collapsed during storage and deployment. The cells are made of high-strength textile. Each of the cells are self-contained yet rely on the next cell for added strength. If one of the cells is compromised, it will not affect the rest of the flood barrier, which will remain standing strong.  TrapBag® Barriers can be filled with sand, washed gravel, or concrete. Avoid filling with silt, clay, or rocks greater than 2 inches across.

How do you prevent water from flooding in your house?

Floods can be so strong they are able to carry vehicles, and collapse buildings and homes. When strong flood waters approach a house, the pressure outside is stronger than within. As a result, walls and foundations crack.

To prevent flood waters from damaging or entering your homes, you must take action before the flood comes. The first step to protect your home from flooding is to ensure your home has proper foundation drainage and waterproofing. 

When emergency flooding happens however, foundation drainage and waterproofing will not be enough. An external barrier can help stop, slow, or redirect the water flow. While sandbags can offer suitable protection, TrapBag® Flood Barriers use 40% less fill material than a stacked sandbag wall, but more importantly one 100 foot section of 4 foot high TrapBag® replaces approximately 8,000 sandbags making TrapBag® Flood Barriers an excellent alternative to small and large sandbags.

What are flood barriers made of?

Flood barriers can be made of anything from reinforced concrete to sandbags depending on the situation. 

Levees and floodwalls are types of flood protection barriers. A levee is typically a compacted earthen structure; a floodwall is an engineered structure usually built of concrete, masonry, or a combination of both. Barriers can be built to protect a single structure or multiple structures as regional facilities.” (FEMA.gov)

TrapBags® are such successful flood barriers not only because of their performance but because of how much time and money you save compared to other flood protection alternatives. TrapBags® successful performance is due to its design where 60% of the mass is in the bottom 50% of the barrier giving TrapBags® a 3 to 1 safety factor.

What is a flood control system?

A flood control system is any method or combination of methods used to control flooding. Flood control systems can be used to fight residential flooding as well as prevent larger floods.

Dams, dikes, levees, and water barriers are all methods of flood protection. These flood protection systems are similar, but can be used in different scenarios. TrapBags® can be used in any of these cases to effectively control the flow of water and protect land and property.

What are different types of flooding?

Floods commonly occur in river floodplains and coastal areas. The two main types of flood are “fluvial” and “pluvial.” Fluvial floods are caused by rivers and streams. Pluvial floods are caused by precipitation. These flood types can be further categorized by their causes.

River Flood

River floods happen when river water levels rise. This happens due to higher amounts of precipitation and melting snow. 

Coastal Flood

Coastal floods happen when water levels are higher than high tide and exacerbated by higher levels of precipitation and high winds. 

Storm Surge

Storm surge occurs when severe storms cause extremely high tides. Severe storms bring with them high winds, strong waves, and a lower atmospheric pressure. Storm surges can lead to extreme flooding of large areas. When hurricanes happen, storm surges cause extensive damage and loss of life and property. 

Inland Flood

Inland floods are the result of higher than average levels of precipitation which accumulates over a span of several days. Inland floods can also result from the flood control system failure.

Flash Flood

Flash floods are caused by very heavy rainfall which accumulates quickly (generally within a few hours). Flash floods can also happen if flood control systems fail.

Types of Flood Damage

Any of these flood types can cause property damage, property loss, crop loss, loss of livestock, loss of human life, and waterborne disease.

How are TrapBags® used for flood protection?

TrapBag® Flood Barriers use 40% less fill material than a stacked sandbag wall, but more importantly one 100 foot section of 4 foot high TrapBag® replaces approximately 8,000 sandbags making TrapBag® Flood Barriers an excellent alternative to small and large sandbags. 

TrapBag® is a series of pentagon-shaped bags that are sloped on one side, vertical on the opposite side, and open at the top for filling. Each of the cells are connected side by side like an accordion, each cell has a common wall with the next cell, and are collapsed during storage and deployment. The cells are made of high-strength textile. Each of the cells are self-contained yet rely on the next cell for added strength. If one of the cells is compromised, it will not affect the rest of the flood barrier, which will remain standing strong.  TrapBag® Barriers can be filled with sand, washed gravel, or concrete. Avoid filling with silt, clay, or rocks greater than 2 inches across.

 

Resources:

NSSL Severe Weather 101: Floods

FEMA: Protect Your Property From Flooding

You can't always predict,
but you can always be prepared.

For immediate assistance please call (239) 674-6611.
We are available 24/7.