From Washington to California, flood defense operations are currently in full swing as a series of powerful atmospheric rivers continue to impact the western United States. These weather systems are bringing prolonged, heavy rainfall that is leading to widespread flooding across coastal regions, river valleys, and mountain communities. While many flood defense efforts are led by state, county, and municipal agencies, homeowners can also take important steps to reduce the risk of floodwater entering their homes. Understanding how floodwater behaves—and which flood barriers perform well under extreme conditions—is critical. What Is a Flood Barrier? A flood barrier is a temporary or permanent structure designed to prevent floodwater from entering homes, buildings, or neighborhoods. Temporary flood barriers come in a variety of designs, including soil-filled containers, water-filled tubes, and metal or aluminum panels. Other flood barrier designs use air-filled tubes or water-activated flotation devices. Homeowners may also use DIY flood protection methods such as raised planter boxes, earthen berms, or sandbags to help prevent water from reaching their homes. Not all flood barriers perform the same, especially during severe flooding involving fast-moving water, debris, and erosion. What’s Driving the Current Flooding in Washington and California? Atmospheric Rivers and Saturated Ground Atmospheric rivers carry massive amounts of moisture from the Pacific Ocean. In recent storms, much of this precipitation has fallen as rain rather than snow, quickly saturating the ground from coastal areas through the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. Once the ground becomes saturated, additional rainfall rapidly runs downhill, overwhelming rivers, streams, and drainage systems. Flooding develops quickly. In some areas, levees have failed, while in others, tributaries have filled with debris. These conditions leave very little time for homeowners to respond. Why This Flooding Is Especially Dangerous? Limited Time to Respond Many homeowners do not realize the scale of flooding until water levels are already rising. By the time flooding becomes apparent, it is often too late to develop an effective plan to defend their property. Floodwaters Exceed Standard Barrier Heights Most common residential flood barriers are designed to protect against 3 to 4 feet of water or less. Current flooding in parts of Washington, California, and Oregon has exceeded these levels, rendering many barriers ineffective due to overtopping. While taller flood barrier options exist, increased height requires greater cost, planning, and deployment time. Many homeowners who flooded did not anticipate five feet of water inside their homes and were therefore unprepared to defend against it. Fast-Moving Water With Heavy Debris Floodwater filled with trees, rocks, soil, and debris is significantly more destructive than slow-moving water. This debris-laden water behaves more like wet concrete, exerting tremendous force that is difficult to resist. When debris strikes flood barriers head-on, floating objects can act like battering rams, quickly overwhelming systems not designed for impact resistance. Erosion Undermining Flood Defenses Fast-moving water erodes soil beneath and around flood barriers. This erosion can cause levees and barriers to fail even if water levels do not overtop them. Homes built on erosive soils are particularly vulnerable when flood barriers lose their ground support. Always anticipate potential for erosion during a flood event. Burn Scar Flooding Wildfires in Washington, Oregon, and California have left large burn scar areas where vegetation no longer stabilizes soil. During heavy rain, these areas experience extreme runoff, sending debris, mud, and rocks into waterways—dramatically increasing flood damage potential downstream. Flood Barriers That Can Be Ineffective in This Flood Environment

Discover effective flood protection solutions for your home. Learn about barriers, drainage, elevation, and tips to keep your property safe from water damage.

Learn key factors before selecting flood protection for your home. Compare options, costs, and effectiveness to stay safe from rising water.

Explore why modern flood barriers offer fast, reliable protection for homes. Learn about their design, setup speed, and effectiveness against sudden flooding.

Flood Defense for Oil & Gas Facilities Flooding near the Mississippi River is a growing concern for many industries, especially oil and gas facilities in Louisiana. These critical operations require long-term protection and a reliable structure that can hold back the force of river water. This is where our team stepped in. We chose HESCO Bastion as the best option for this project. It delivers strong and lasting protection while also adapting to the complex layout of the site. The goal was to build an 8-foot-high floodwall that could remain in place for years with little upkeep. It also had to surround active pipework and tie securely into a sloped earthen berm. Our experience with HESCO made this possible. This product stacks easily, resists erosion, and stands up to the pressure of high river levels. It’s one of the most cost-effective flood protection systems available today for both industrial and residential areas. Custom Solutions with HESCO Bastion We enjoy working with HESCO Bastion because it allows for creative builds. For this site, we needed to wrap the barrier around several exposed pipes and make it flow seamlessly into a grassy berm. Traditional floodwalls can’t always handle this level of detail. The key was in modifying the units during construction. HESCO Bastion's wire mesh design made it easy to adjust each section. We started by placing the units on each side of the pipe network. Then, we built a frame using mesh strips to form a strong seal around the pipes. After sealing the gaps with coil wires, we lined the section with geotextile and filled it with compacted sand. In this case, water was used to help pack the sand tight. Finally, we added spray foam around the pipe entry points to prevent seepage. These steps created a clean and secure connection, even with multiple pipes in place. Building Barriers Around Pipes Most barriers aren’t designed to go around fixed objects like piping. But in real-world settings, that’s often the challenge. That’s why we rely on HESCO Bastion. It offers a rare balance of strength and flexibility. To secure the pipes, we connected the modified wire mesh across the front and back of the barrier. Vertical mesh gave us structure, while horizontal pieces held the form tight. Once filled, the unit created a reliable seal that locked into place. We also included a spray foam layer around the piping. While not always required, spray foam is a smart way to reduce risk in high-pressure zones. It helps block small openings that might otherwise go unnoticed and helps build redundancy into the design. Tying Floodwalls to Natural Embankments One of the final challenges was tying the flood barrier into the existing berm. The embankment was covered in grass and even had layers of seashells, making it naturally resistant to erosion. We wanted to preserve this, so we avoided digging into it. Instead, we chose to modify the HESCO Bastion unit. We disassembled it and rebuilt it in place to match the slope. This allowed the barrier to visually and physically blend into the berm. By working with the natural shape rather than cutting into it, we maintained the berm’s stability and protected against long-term erosion. We added buttress cells for support where the floodwall met the embankment. These small attachments give the wall added strength without changing the core structure. They’re quick to install and make the system more secure during major flood events. The Bottom Line This project is a clear example of how adaptable flood protection systems can be when handled correctly. At Flood Defense Group, we tailor each solution to the site’s needs. We work with proven products like HESCO Bastion that are flexible, strong, and ideal for long-term flood control. Whether the job requires protecting oil and gas plants or flood barriers for residential areas , we bring the same level of care to every installation. Our team understands how to design barriers around complex infrastructure, tie into natural features, and reinforce systems for lasting strength.  We believe in flood defense that’s practical, proven, and built to last. Our success in Louisiana is just one example of how the right product combined with the right technique makes all the difference. FAQs

The Double Disaster of Wildfires and Subsequent Flooding

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Let's modify the HESCO barriers with the flood defence group and keep ourselves safe from the harms of flooding.

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