You place sand into a sandbag, being mindful of the amount, to help prevent continuous joints when placing the filled bags.
Understanding Sandbag Filling
The process of filling a sandbag is crucial for effective flood protection. It's not just about dumping sand into a bag; the technique and the amount of sand used are important for how well the sandbags will work. The following points will help in understanding the process:
- Filling Amount: The video on YouTube titled "How to Properly Sandbag for Flood Protection" (0:00-3:00) highlights the importance of not overfilling sandbags. You want to leave space at the top for tying the bag off and for the bag to lay flat.
- Joints: The video also notes you should not have continuous joints when placing sandbags because that is where seepage can occur. This means that how the bag is filled and how you place them after filling, matters for effectiveness.
- Sand: Use the correct type of sand which is sand for construction or similar purposes, not play sand.
Step-by-step guide to filling sandbags:
- Gather Your Materials: Have your sandbags, sand and a shovel or other filling device, ready.
- Open the Bag: Open the sandbag completely and ensure it is upright.
- Fill the Bag: Use the shovel to fill the bag with the correct amount of sand, as noted above.
- Tie the Bag: Tie or fold the top of the bag in a manner that prevents sand from escaping, but does not leave a large bulge.
- Place the Bag: Place the bag in the desired location, making sure to stagger joints.
- Repeat: Continue filling and placing sandbags as needed.
By following these steps, you can effectively fill sandbags and use them for flood protection or other purposes.
