ORLANDO, Fla. – If you have a project you’d like Erik to tackle, send us an email at GettingResultsAtHome@wkmg.com and next week, Erik might just show up at your door!
We met up with Seminole County Emergency Manager Alan Harris to see how he sandbags his home. He says there is absolutely a “correct” way to do it!
We purchased:
- a tarp
We brought with us:
- a shovel
We recommend:
- gloves
Step 1
Scan your landscape. Look around to see the contour - where does it slope down, where is water likely to end up. If your garage is at the bottom of your driveway, you’ll need to sandbag it.
Step 2
Count before you drive. Sandbags should be stacked three bags high and across the entire opening. Count your openings and the number of bags you’ll need to protect them so you’ll know how many you’ll need to fill when you get to the sand station. It’s much better than guessing and finding out you’re short.
Step 3
Fill the bags. Bring a buddy and a shovel! Usually our counties and cities provide bags and ties. Filling a sandbag is so much easier when someone is holding open the bag for you. Fill the bag about 50% or 60% full, leaving space in the bag for the sand to flatten out when you place it on the ground. Another pro tip: bring gloves.
Step 4
Place the bags and use a tarp. Use one tarp per opening. Lay the tarp on the ground and across the opening and lift up the sides to cover the bottoms of your walls. Then place the bags flat like a brick on top of the bottom of the tarp and stack them three levels high including up against the bottom of your walls. Make sure the bags are putting pressure on the tarp especially up against your walls. The tarp and the bags will then provide an effect barrier against floodwater as long as the flooding doesn’t rise higher than the bags.
You just got results at home!
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