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Florida - Free Flood Defense Barrier Survey 2026 Sign-Up

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 20:41:56 GMT

Flood Defense Group 2026 Roadshow

Are you vulnerable to flooding?

Would you like expert help identifying practical flood barrier solutions before the next flood season arrives?

Flood Defense Group is planning a 2026 flood defense roadshow , with on-site visits to communities across the United States. These visits focus on education, planning, and real-world flood protection options —not pressure sales.

If you would like to be considered for a visit in your area, please reply below with your ZIP code . As our route develops, we will follow up with availability and next steps.

Why work with Flood Defense Group?

Largest variety of flood defense barrier systems in the United States
Supplied hundreds of miles of flood barriers nationwide
Door and window flood panels, as well as standalone flood barriers
Manufacturer-direct pricing
On-site measurement of doors, windows, homes, yards, riverbanks, and shorelines
Quotes for multiple flood barrier configurations
Guidance on DIY flood prevention and flood defense landscaping

When floodwaters arrive, response time is limited.

Even if you are not ready to purchase today, having a plan in place can save critical time when conditions change quickly.

We specialize in flood defense planning and are available to help you evaluate practical, realistic solutions for your situation.

�� Sign up below or contact us to get on the 2026 visit list.

Carlos.torres@flooddefensegroup.com

Flooding across Washington and California: What homeowners need to know about flood barriers

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:43:28 GMT

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

Water-Filled Flood Tubes (Diversion Tubes)

Water-filled flood tubes are most effective for shallow flooding of approximately one foot or less, particularly in stagnant water conditions. During recent flood events, concerns include:

· Vulnerability to puncture from debris

· Increased risk of rolling due to flood depth

· Under-seepage beneath the barrier, especially on soil or sand surfaces

Barriers That Could Float Away

A simple rule of thumb: if a flood barrier floats in a swimming pool, it can float away during a flood if water builds up on both sides of the barrier.

Continued rainfall, combined with seepage and runoff on the protected side, can cause buoyant flood barriers to lose stability and float away when exposed to fast-moving, deep floodwater.

Sandbags

Sandbags are labor-intensive, unstable at greater heights, and allow significant water seepage. Their lifespan is short, and they are typically only effective for minor flood events. West Coast watersheds often do not provide sufficient warning time to deploy sandbag defenses effectively.

Flood Barriers That Cannot Be Raised

Due to the unprecedented depth of floodwaters in this situation, many defenses were simply not tall enough. For most temporary flood barrier designs, height cannot be added once deployed.

Barriers that cannot be stacked or expanded offer limited protection when flood projections change. In contrast, some flood defenses were successfully expanded to achieve greater heights. If flood depths have the potential to increase unexpectedly, the ability to build upon an existing barrier is critical.

Flood Defense Systems Performing Best in the Current West Coast Flooding Environment

1. HESCO Barriers

HESCO barriers are widely used by government agencies across the United States due to their strength and adaptability.

Key advantages:

· Continuous, interconnected barrier design provides high structural strength

· Stackable to achieve significant protective heights

· Soil fill resists debris impact and heavier debris flows

· Extremely heavy and resistant to movement

· “Dirt-to-dirt” ground contact reduces under-seepage

· Long lifespan (typically used for extended or semi-permanent deployments)

· Cost-effective for large-scale, high-water protection

2. Geodesign Flood Barriers

Geodesign flood barriers are made from steel or aluminum and are designed for rapid deployment and high-impact resistance.

Key advantages:

· No fill material required and fast to deploy

· Sloped design deflects debris impact

· Fully reusable with long service life

· Flat-pack storage for efficient transport

· Excellent resistance to sliding on wet surfaces

· Do not float, even during overtopping

3. NOAQ Boxwall Flood Barriers

These flood barriers are not designed for debris impact but are widely popular because they are fast to deploy and relatively inexpensive. For residential flood protection where time is limited and there is no significant threats of debris impacts, this product is quite popular

Key advantages:

· No fill material required and fast to deploy

· Lightweight and easy to put together

· Fully reusable

· Stack up like a bunch of chairs for storage making them logistically friendly for transport and storage

NOTE: Anchor this product down by putting sandbags on the toe of the product if deploying it within a high wind environment

Key Takeaways and Suggestions for Homeowners Planning to Combat Floodwaters

· Understand historical flood levels and potential flood risks to determine minimum protection requirements

· Be aware of hazards or issues within flood situation like wave action, debris impact, high winds, and time constraints when selecting a barrier

· Compare available response time with deployment time for any flood barrier system to make sure you have time to deploy it

· Develop a real plan. Identify exactly what you need and what you need to do in order to accomplish your plan. It will save you precious time.

Once floodwater is visible, it is often too late to act. Having a well-defined plan can makes a critical difference when time is not a luxury!

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Flood Defense Group

www.flooddefensegroup.com

Protect Your Home From Floods

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 06:30:01 GMT

What Are the Best Flood Protection Options for Residential Coastal Homes

Coastal homes face a unique set of challenges when it comes to flooding. Rising tides, storm surges, and heavy rainfall can quickly overwhelm standard drainage systems. Homeowners often wonder how to protect their property without undergoing costly renovations. Flood Defense Group has extensive experience providing practical solutions that safeguard homes effectively while remaining easy to deploy. This blog explores modern strategies designed to keep residential properties dry during high water events.

Table of Contents

Understanding Flood Risks for Coastal Homes
Protecting Sliding Doors with Flood Barriers
Residential Coastal Flood Barriers: Planning and Deployment
Why Choose Flood Defense Group?
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Your Personalized Flood Protection Plan

Understanding Flood Risks for Coastal Homes

Properties along the coast are particularly vulnerable to flooding. Water can enter through multiple points including doors, windows, and low-lying foundations. Even a small amount of water can cause significant damage to flooring, electrical systems, and personal belongings. Recognizing potential entry points is the first step toward effective flood preparedness. In many cases, specialized protective measures are required to ensure that water does not compromise living spaces.

Protecting Sliding Doors with Flood Barriers

One of the most common entry points for floodwater in coastal homes is sliding doors. Traditional solutions like sandbags are often cumbersome and inefficient. Modern flood barriers for sliding doors offer a more practical approach. These barriers are:

Quick to install and remove
Adjustable to fit a variety of door widths
Reusable for multiple flood events
Able to create a watertight seal against incoming water

Properly installed, sliding door barriers prevent water from entering living areas while maintaining accessibility. They are particularly useful for homes with patios, decks, or balconies that open to the outside.

Residential Coastal Flood Barriers: Planning and Deployment

Beyond individual doors, comprehensive protection may be necessary for the perimeter of coastal properties. Residential coastal flood barriers are designed to shield homes from rising tides and storm surges. These systems can be modular or portable, allowing homeowners to deploy them quickly before a flood event. Key features often include:

Reusable construction for multiple seasons
Compatibility with uneven terrain and landscaping
Lightweight components that reduce installation effort
Integration with existing drainage systems

Planning ahead and having a barrier system on hand can dramatically reduce the risk of property damage. Homeowners can also benefit from professional guidance to select the right combination of barriers for their property layout.

Why Choose Flood Defense Group?

Flood Defense Group offers tailored solutions for residential flood protection. Their team evaluates each property to recommend the most effective products and strategies. Core services include:

Personalized flood risk assessments
Barrier selection and delivery
Installation guidance and training
24-hour support during emergency events

By focusing on proven, reliable flood protection products, the company ensures that homeowners receive solutions that work in real world conditions rather than temporary fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Your Personalized Flood Protection Plan

Protect your coastal home today with reliable flood barriers. Contact Flood Defense Group for a personalized assessment and learn which solutions are best for your property.

What to Know Before Choosing Protection Against Rising Water

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 18:30:00 GMT

What Should You Know Before Choosing the Right Protection Against Rising Water?

Flooding can damage homes and businesses within minutes. It can disrupt operations, weaken structures, and create long term financial loss. Many property owners look for solutions that work fast and offer dependable protection. Understanding the options available is the first step toward building a safer plan.

Effective Ways to Keep Water Out

Protecting a building starts with knowing which tools offer the strongest barrier. Every site is different. The layout, location, terrain, and level of risk all influence the type of protection needed. That is why planning matters. Short sentences help guide clearer decisions. Simple steps and the right guidance can reduce damage and support faster recovery.

Some sites require large scale setups that can be deployed quickly. Others need smaller solutions for doorways and entry points. This is where working with a team that understands both permanent and temporary options becomes essential. Flood Defense Group provides a wide range of systems that support residential and commercial needs. Their work focuses on proper planning, product selection, installation guidance, and 24-hour support during critical moments.

Understanding Modern Protection Systems

Today’s flood barrier systems give property owners more control during emergencies. These solutions are designed to hold back rising water and protect key areas of a building. They come in different forms including modular units, panel systems, and rapid deployment options that work well for large sites. The right system depends on the height required, ground conditions, access points, and the speed at which the barrier must be installed. A clear assessment helps determine the most effective combination.

Residential Entry Protection

Homes need focused attention because water often enters through doorways. Modern flood gates for houses offer simple installation and strong sealing. They help keep water from entering living spaces during heavy rain or local flooding. These gates work well for single family homes, apartments, and rental properties. They are reusable and designed to fit most entry points with secure locking features. This makes them a strong first line of defense for homeowners preparing for seasonal storms.

Why Choose Flood Defense Group

Flood Defense Group offers complete support from early planning to onsite deployment. Their team studies each property to understand the level of exposure and recommends solutions tailored to those needs. They provide access to training, rentals, and equipment stockpiling. Their products are field tested and used by government agencies, industries, and homeowners across the country. This experience helps clients respond faster and stay protected throughout changing weather conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Take the Next Step Toward Better Protection

Protecting your property begins with the right plan. Contact Flood Defense Group today for expert guidance, custom recommendations, and support during every stage of preparation.

What Makes Modern Flood Barriers More Reliable for Rapid Protection?

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 18:30:01 GMT

What Makes Modern Flood Barriers More Reliable for Rapid Protection?

Flooding continues to challenge homes, businesses, and entire communities. Fast rising water can disrupt daily life and cause heavy damage. This is why many property owners look for reliable solutions that are easy to deploy in an emergency. The goal is always the same. Protect the structure. Reduce the damage. Respond faster than the water. This article explains practical options available through Flood Defense Group and how they work in real situations.

Understanding Practical Flood Protection Options

Every property has different risks. Some face flash floods while others deal with seasonal changes. The first step in choosing the right solution is knowing how each barrier works. Keep the sentences short. Keep the focus clear. When a barrier is easy to move and simple to install it becomes more effective during high pressure situations. Many customers need systems they can set up without heavy equipment or a large team. This is where proven technology matters. It helps people prepare early and act with confidence.

What Are Portable Water Barrier Solutions

Many property owners look for flexible tools that can be stored easily and deployed within minutes. portable water barrier solutions offer this advantage because they can be carried to the site, positioned quickly and filled on location. They work well for temporary protection around buildings, entry points and large landscapes. These systems reduce the need for sandbags and are designed to withstand water pressure. They also support rapid response during emergencies when every minute counts.

How Do Water Filled Flood Tubes Work

One of the most practical options for homeowners and facility managers is a system known as water filled flood tubes . These tubes use water as the stabilizing force. Once placed on the ground and filled they create a reliable barrier that stays in position during rising water. They are lightweight before deployment and easy to store throughout the year. This makes them a strong choice for planned protection and unplanned weather events. The setup process is simple which helps reduce stress during urgent situations.

Why Choose Flood Defense Group

Flood Defense Group offers a wide range of proven barrier systems. The company supports both residential and commercial properties. Customers can access expert guidance based on location and risk level. Each solution is selected to match the height needed and the terrain. The team also provides training and planning support. This ensures that users know how to deploy the system correctly. The goal is to give every customer a dependable way to reduce flood impact and protect important assets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Take the Next Step Toward Better Flood Protection

Protecting your property starts with the right barrier system. Contact Flood Defense Group today for guidance, planning support and reliable flood protection solutions tailored to your needs.

Flood Defense for Oil & Gas: HESCO Barriers in Action

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 18:30:00 GMT

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 Forest Fires and Subsequent Flooding

keith.anderson@flooddefensegroup.com (Keith Anderson) — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 14:23:48 GMT

The Double Disaster of Wildfires and Subsequent Flooding

Moving from one environmental disaster to the next. First responders transition from fighting forest fires to fighting floodwaters, and yet the forests continue to burn. This has become the ‘new normal’ within the USA and around the world as temperatures continue to increase.

The full force of local, state, and federal authorities can be seen in New Mexico AGAIN as the South Fork and Salt fires leave a burn scar of nearly 18,000 acres and a looming flood threat that has already delivered catastrophic flooding to the town of Ruidoso multiple times! This fire has torched 1400 structures which includes over 500 homes within the Ruidoso area this month while catastrophic flooding and debris flows demolished nearly half of the town that remained. Ruidoso needs a break from disaster along with the thousands of first responders who are faced with the daunting task of putting the fires out while simultaneously protecting what is left of Ruidoso from flooding. This problem is happening all over the western USA as well as Canada.

Ruidoso looks like a surreal war zone suffering from, and preparing for, continued disaster events like flooding. Sandbags fortify homes and businesses everywhere while uniformed military personnel from the National Guard drive the streets delivering sandbags performing a variety of support functions to defend against the new threat of flooding. The surrounding forest is black from the cooked ground to the burnt trees that look like nothing more than blackened poles sticking out of the ground and devoid of any sort of greenery. Mountains of rock and debris have cascaded down the mountain sides from recent flooding and have created debris piles that are everywhere. This is accompanied by fields of black soot and mud that cover the landscape, the roads, yards, and even the insides of homes from the first rain and subsequent flooding since the fire began. The town then flooded again about 6 days later and again about 3 days after that!

Forest fires can bring more devastation than the fire itself. First, the fire, and then the flooding which follows. Within the western USA particularly, forest fire debris flows are becoming one of the major sources of flooding we encounter. The ground gets ‘cooked’ by the fire and cannot let rainwater soak in. When it rains, there is no vegetation to slow the downward flow of water and the cooked ground causes rain run-off to quickly gain speed and intensity as flows downhill. As runoff water gains speed and volume, erosion quickly begins to take place which creates a muddy soup that is heavier than most floodwater. Since there is no vegetation to hold the topsoil in place, the soil erodes and exposes rocks, boulders, and eventually trees and logs which create one of the most powerful and violent forms of flooding we encounter; debris flows. This creates the knock-on effects of a damaged ecological systems from covering streambeds and fish spawning areas with mud to barren mountain tops with little habitat left survive.

It is monsoon season in New Mexico and residents of Ruidoso are preparing for this to be the new normal for about the next 3-5 years, as is the case within these forest fire burn scar areas throughout the country.

During this deployment, Flood Defense Group supported the US Army Coprs of Engineers within the emergency operations center and an ‘alphabet soup’ of other organizations who work together to respond to these disaster events and support long term recovery efforts within the area. Flood Defense Group arrived to find a flurry of organizations actively supporting this effort. We were behind the front-line of the ongoing fire disaster to assist in spearheading the new flood defense effort by installing flood barriers to protect against the impending debris flows that generally follow forest fires within the burn scar areas.

The wider flood defense effort included firefighters transitioning from fighting the fire to preparing for floodwaters and installing flood barriers. The US Forest Service had crews cutting out trees, logs, and debris from river channels to prevent log jams from causing debris laden flood water to spill outside the banks of the rivers. Simultaneously, there were additional US Fores Service and Department of Transportation crews resurfacing backroads to protect homes by channeling potential floodwater back to the drainage channel in which it belongs. This was all happening while heavy machinery of all types worked to dig the town out of the mess of mud and debris that had already been deposited. Independent of the work to clean up from flooding and prepare from follow-on flood events, additional efforts were under way to repair the environment of effected watersheds, raise or replace levees wherever needed, repairing infrastructure that had been damaged, and a monumental clean-up effort!

This is only one example of flooding and flood defense operations that result from this specific wildfire. As of today, July 29 ^th 2024, there are 94 large active forest fires actively burning within the USA which have already burned well over 2 million acres this ‘fire season’, that is less than half finished. In some places within the USA, the term ‘fire season’ is no longer valid because forest fires are becoming a problem all year long.

In the last 2 years, Flood Defense Group has supplied nearly 20 linear miles of flood barriers in California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington alone to protect homes, property, and infrastructure against debris flows and flooding. We have a variety of barriers to protect homes and buildings from flooding but when it comes to redirecting a debris flow, the HESCO Barrier is certainly the most widely used flood barrier within the USA do accomplish this. This product is generically known as a ‘soil filled gabion’ or ‘lined gabion’ basket which is well described as a soil filled building block that is easily stacked to achieve about any protective height for a flood wall that you may require. Also, when it comes to redirecting debris flows, this product is regularly ‘doubled up’ to create flood walls with greater mass when greater protection is required. This is because debris flows are among the most violent types of flooding. Debris flows are full of mud, rock, and debris which makes for the heaviest form of flood water we encounter and are generally moving at a great velocity. Within this type of flood defense environment, you can be expected to deal with heavier water, large debris impacts, ground scouring, erosion, damming of rivers from debris, and a generally short notice before floodwaters arrive in a generally unpredictable manner. And to make matters worse for those people dealing with this type of flooding, they can expect it to happen for about 3-5 years after the forest fire while vegetation can regrow and stabilize the ground again. Forest fires definitely create additional disasters long after the disaster of the fire itself!

If you live close to a river or even a dried creek bed and are within a watershed downstream from a recent forest fire burn scar, we suggest taking immediate action to mitigate against any perceived flood threats you may have because once it starts to rain on a new burn scar, it may be too late react. Throughout our time in fighting flood water, we have developed great appreciation to how dangerous and unpredictable flooding is within burn scar areas and we suggest you take steps to prepare for potential flooding. This includes keeping your riverbed free of debris and excessive trees or vegetation that will snag floating debris and create dams. You can take steps to protect your home from flooding by purchasing flood barriers or developing some flood defense landscaping techniques to keep your home out of harms way from flood waters or potential debris flows. Find local information sources discussing potential flood problems and keep a list of phone numbers you may need to have in an emergency. Make sure you have an evacuation plan and even a ‘go bag’ so when flood waters arrive, you can be as ready as possible to make a safe escape.

Be prepared and if you live within the path of a potential debris flow, Flood Defense Group can help. We are always happy to provide any support we can whether you are using a traditional flood barrier or simply trying to employ some DIY techniques to protect your home from flooding. Give us a call and we will make every effort to help in any way we can!

Stay Dry

Flood Defense Group
www.flooddefensegroup.com
info@flooddefensegroup.com
1-208-585-1815

What Type of Flood Barrier Works Best for You?

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 23:25:59 GMT

Introduction:

It can be a cumbersome task finding the best flood barrier for your unique situation when every flood barrier provider you speak to will commonly claim that they have the best flood barrier. In reality, there is no ‘best flood barrier’ because every situation is different. This leaves the consumer in a lonely position of trying to weed through numerous flood barrier options and differing messages of what flood barrier works best to protect their home from flooding.

This is why Flood Defense Group has amassed the largest collection of flood barrier designs in North America, because we understand there is no ‘best flood barrier’ for every situation. We understand that the best flood barrier for your unique situation may depend on a large variety of factors.

These factors may include:

What is the depth of flood water?
What is the reaction time to the arrival of flood water?
What type of building surfaces the flood barrier will sit on?
Can the barrier fit into proposed location?
How long will the flood barrier be in place?
How easy or difficult is the flood barrier to deploy?
Do you need a reusable flood barrier?
What are the logistics of shipping, deploying, and storing your flood barrier?
Can you afford a particular flood barrier system? Are there alternative solutions that are more affordable?
And more…..

Below, is our feedback on the variety of designs and products on the market where we break down the pros and cons of the various systems available.

Water Filled Flood Barrier Designs

Water Filled Flood Tubes

There are a variety of options when it comes to this type of design and some designs are certainly better than others! Some of the popular options on the market include the Aqua Dam, Tiger Dam, Aire Diversion tubes, and NoFloods Flood Tubes. The primary selling points to these products are that water fill material is cheap and easy to fill. They conform to the ground nicely, and these barriers are generally less expensive compared to more rigid and robust barriers.

Pros

These designs are the least expensive options on the market
Water fill material is inexpensive, generally easy to fill/empty, and does not leave a mess
These products conform nicely to inconsistencies on the ground creating a better seal than rigid barriers

Cons

Easily damaged from airborne or waterborne debris impact which can result in catastrophic failures from damage
A single line of water tubes is prone to rolling or movement. This is especially true when exposed to wave impact or terrain that is not level. If wave impact is expected, we like systems that have two tubes side by side and connected for added stability like NoFloods which, however, do not have a long-life span against UV rays.
A single line of water tubes should be reinforced from rolling with heavy objects like sandbags
Not all water tubes are as reusable as manufacturers may claim. This often depends on what the tubes are made of. If you want a reusable water filled flood tube, we believe it needs to be comprised of a PVC coated fabric (similar to white water rafts) and NOT woven materials (similar to sandbags) as an outer layer with tubing inside (similar to a waterbed).

Woven Fabric Water Tube – Failure due to UV-Rays

Muscle Wall Flood Barrier

T his product earns its name and is our clear favorite ‘water filled flood barrier’, that is completely reusable for violent situations like hurricanes conditions, mud flows, or debris impact. This flood barrier design also has an 8’ tall option with the bragging rights of having the tallest, completely reusable option on the flood barrier market without a requirement to bolt it to the ground. This barrier is tough, which is especially true when comparing it to other water filled flood barriers on the market. It is great a great residential flood barrier as well as being a popular commercial flood barrier with a variety of uses.

Pros

Sizes range from 6” to 8’ tall
Tallest water filled temporary flood barrier on the market
Most robust water filled temporary barrier on the market
The design uses the weight of the incoming floodwater for added strength and stability
Only water filled barrier we would expect to withstand wave impact, debris impact, and debris flows
Long life span with 10 year warranty against UV degradation
This product has passed the flood barrier testing with the USACE

Cons

Somewhat ‘clunky’ and requires above average space for storage
They are somewhat expensive to ship

Air Filled Flood Barrier Design

NOAQ Tubewall

This flood barrier product is simple and effective and consists of a large air-filled tube that is attached to a ‘skirt’ comprised of a PVC membrane that sits on the ground and conforms well to undulations or inconsistencies. As the floodwater arrives, the weight of the flood water on the skirt, which anchors the product to the ground.

Pros

Entire sections of the NOAQ Tubewall flood barrier can be linked together and filled with an air compressor from a single location
Air in an inexpensive and readily available fill material
The ‘skirt’ attached to the tube creates a great seal to the ground, even on undulating terrain
Logistically friendly to roll up and pack away without residual water weight commonly found with water filled water tubes

Cons

It is comparatively expensive to other types of flood barriers
Vulnerable to failure from debris impact from floating or flying debris
Vulnerable to movement from high winds similar to hurricane conditions
Long lead time to delivery with upfront payment required
Individual sections are somewhat heavy depending on length and height of protection required

Free Standing Flood Barrier Designs

DESCRIPTION: These types of flood barrier designs do not require any sort of fill material at all and use the weight or downward pressure of the incoming floodwater to further anchor itself to the ground.

NOAQ Boxwall Removable Flood Barrier

This flood defense barrier is immediately effective against incoming floodwater, and is the fastest to deploy on short notice. It is lightweight, super effective, and stacks away nicely into a corner of your garage or even a closet between uses.

Pros

Easily considered the most popular residential flood barrier on the market
No fill material required – Anchored by the weight of the incoming flood water
Stacks away like chairs to make it logistically friendly to ship, store, and move around
Lightweight design makes it simple and easy to deploy for people of all ages
Flood Defense Group will purchase this product back for any reason (ask for details)

Cons

Lightweight design can make it susceptible to movement from high winds which is easily mitigated against by placing a sandbag on the toe of the unit for added weight when water is not against it

Geodesign Flood Barrier and Alteau Mobile Flood Barrier

If you are looking for a temporary flood barrier that will last a lifetime, this design is a winner. Because they are made of metal, they are extremely robust. This makes them great for arctic conditions, oil and gas facilities, or construction sites with potentially careless employees who may otherwise damage a plastic barrier by simply throwing them around. This product also packs away nicely, making them a great option for the residential market as well.

Pros

Steel and/or Aluminum composition truly ensures that these barriers will last a lifetime
No fill material required which saves time and money during deployments
Fast to deploy and recover
Packs away nicely making it logistically friendly
They are tough flood barriers!! This helps them to withstand potential damage from debris impact, freezing temperatures, UV exposure, and/or careless workers who may be inclined to throw it around during deployment
Great choice for arctic conditions, construction sites, regular deployments, and long-life spans

Cons

These products are on the more expensive side of cost

Airfoil Designs

DESCRIPTION: For the ease of describing them, we used the term ‘Airfoil Designs’ because they seem similar to a parachute in design where they raise by themselves as the water level rises. We like this design because they do not require fill material and conform to the ground nicely in creating a seal as the floodwater raises onto the barrier itself.

Pros

No fill material required
Seals to undulating terrain nicely without the need for a plastic liner
Logistically friendly and it compacts down nicely for shipping and storage between uses

Cons

They are on the expensive side of the flood barrier industry for height achieved
Because they are shaped like a parachute, high winds can prove problematic without anchoring them down

Soil Filled Flood Barrier Designs

HESCO (or similar)

When it comes to linear miles of flood barriers installed, this product is the most widely used flood barrier in the USA for governmental emergency projects and flood protection projects. This flood barrier has all the other flood barriers beat when it comes to stopping power because it is filled with soil and can be configured to about any height and width. 

NOTE: There are suppliers in China who claim to sell ‘HESCO’. HESCO is not manufactured in China and products that come out of this area consistently fall apart in the form of degrading geotextile fabric and weld failure of the wire mesh and is of poor quality. Do not be fooled by suppliers who claim to supply this product by name out of China! This has been a big problem!

Pros

This is easily the most widely used flood barrier for governmental and commercial applications in the USA
Most robust flood barrier on the market capable of withstanding debris impact, wave action, debris flows, and the most hostile conditions any flood barrier may be exposed to
Easily modified to conform to challenging situations
Flat packs for logistical ease of transport and storage
Can be stacked to achieve great heights of protection
Long life span (5 years+)
This product is extremely versatile for a variety of civil applications beyond flood defense

Cons

Soil fill is logistically demanding and machinery is required to fill
Not ideal for urban/residential locations as the filling process can tear up a yard

Flood Defense Landscaping

Defencell

This product can used as a stand-alone flood barrier but, in our opinion, the ability to use this product to reinforce an earthen berm with a long-life span sets it in a category of its own. This product is comprised exclusively of geotextile and therefore, there are no metals or plastics left in the ground. This allows you to build this product, bury it to create an earthen berm that is capable of experiencing overtopping without erosion causing a complete failure should water start cascading down the ‘dry side’ of your barrier.

It is common to use an earthen berm for flood defense, but an earthen berm is not a levee!!!! When an earthen berm is exposed to floodwater, it is common for the soil to become saturated. This can quickly result in erosion/scouring when water is moving laterally along an earthen berm. Additionally, if you have flood water overtop your earthen berm, you can expect the water to quickly erode the soil as it cascades down the dry side of your berm which commonly results in erosion causing a total failure of an earthen berm.

This product can help to stabilize the soil from within your berm against erosion in these situations when exposed to flood water.

COMMON PROTEST – ‘I do not want to lose my view’ (of the ocean, riverfront, or surrounding nature) associated with creating an earthen berm around my property. I also do not want to ‘live in a fish bowl’ by creating an earthen berm around my property. With this product, you can choose to create a low profile earthen berm and if floodwaters are overwhelming, you can build a flood barrier on top of it!!

As a general rule, flood barriers become more expensive as you get taller. For example, a 4’ tall flood barrier can be expected to cost more than twice as much as a 2’ tall flood barrier of the same design which is only half the height. A flood barrier that is twice as high can quickly become more expensive and logistically demanding to purchase, deploy, recover, and store. By incorporating a degree of flood defense landscaping in this manner, you can save time/money/storage space by deploying a lower profile flood barrier on top of a flood defense feature that is landscaped into your property.

GAP CLOSURES and FLOOD DEFENSE LANDSCAPING

Perhaps it is possible to use a soil filled and buried product like Defencell or even raised planter beds to create sections of flood defense landscaping around your property. By doing this, you can also lessen your requirement to purchase/deploy/store flood barriers. For example, you can create a landscaped section of your property where you are not worried about sacrificing your view or the area easily allows for a landscaped flood defense barrier. If you can do this on 1 or 2 sides of your property, you can lessen the cost and logistics of having to deploy flood barriers by 25-50%!! If you are in a flood prone area and/or experience repeated flood events, this can save you a significant amount of heartache over the course of time!

Flood Panel Systems for Doors, Windows, and Oversized Openings

DESCRIPTION: Flood panel systems are in a category of their own and commonly used to protect doors from flooding, protect windows from flooding, or oversized openings such as protecting a garage from flooding. They are also used for key areas like protecting elevators from flooding, power generation areas, and similar infrastructure than you cannot afford to be submerged in floodwater.

These systems are more expensive than traditional, removable flood barriers but do a great job in quickly sealing off a door from flooding (for example).

Generally speaking, we categorize them into two categories which are flood panels that wedge themselves into a door frame like Flood Gate by Quickdams, Dam Easy Flood Panels, or ‘RAPID’ flood barriers and panels that are inserted into pre-mounted brackets that need to be installed by inserting nuts, bolts, or rails into your door frame like the Legacy Flood Panel, RAPID flood barriers, Flood Logs, EZ Panel, or the FRA Panel.

Wedge Systems like Dam Easy, Floodgate by Quickdams, or various RAPID systems

Pros

No need to modify a standard doorway because it wedges into place
Dam Easy – Air filled seal (like a bike tire) creates a fabulous seal around most doorways
These flood panel systems are simple and do not require a additional components to be installed
They can be linked together to create something more similar to a flood fence with the use of intermittent, removable posts.

Cons

Most of these barriers are 28” tall and cannot be stacked so if your flood threat is more than 28”, they won’t be tall enough.
For openings of more than approximately 40”+-, intermittent, removable posts need to be installed which require holes to be drilled into the concrete within the threshold of your door or opening.

NOTE: If you are trying to lower your flood insurance rates , some regulations require you to alter the structure by physically installing the barrier to your home by using bolts or brackets to be considered an ‘improvement to your home’. Because these wedge systems only need to be wedged into a doorway to work, there are no modifications or ‘improvements’ to your home because the barrier is not physically attached to the structure. Therefore, no improvement has taken place. However, you may be able to simply attach a bracket to either side of a doorway, which the barrier is then wedged in between, to constitute an improvement and subsequently be accepted by an insurance provider. This technique, as wall as all information within this review, is up to the reader or end user to investigate or endorse as Flood Defense Group assumes no liability or responsibility for any suggestions or claims made in this review.

Panel Systems like EZ Panel, FRA Panel, Legacy Flood Panel, Flood Logs, and various RAPID systems

These flood panel systems are comprised of various materials but generally speaking, most of them are made from aluminum panels. These systems can achieve greater heights of protection than most wedge systems and can be stacked to achieve about any height required. They tend to span longer distances, but depending on the depth/width of flood protection required, intermediate, removable upright posts may be required.

Pros

Generally metal or composite composition with a long lifespan warranty
Fabricated to the exact size of the opening to be protected
Easy to install after extraneous bracketry is installed

Cons

Modification to the structure is required in the form of mounting rails, brackets, or other hardware
These products are generally more expensive
Longer lead times are associated with these type systems as they are fabricated specific to the door or opening they are being used to protect

Which flood barriers perform best in the following fields below:

PRICE

Water Filled Flood Tubes – These are generally the least expensive option for flood protection. However, once you get above about 20” of a protective height requirement, the cost savings become more trivial and we find some of our other barriers to be preferable.

HESCO – This soil filled barrier proves to be the least expensive option in achieving greater heights for flood protection which becomes more profound the higher you go.

INSTALLATION SPEED

NOAQ Boxwall, Geodesign Flood Barriers, and Inero Flood barriers – The fact that these products do not have to be filled with any sort of fill material to work makes them among the quickest and easiest to deploy.

ACHIEVING HEIGHT

HESCO (or similar) – This product is the undisputed leader in achieving great heights for flood protection because this product is easily stacked to achieve a desired height.

MUSCLE Wall – When it comes to a removable, and completely reusable flood barrier, the Muscle Wall product takes this category.

REUSABILITY or EASE OF REUSABILITY

For this category, we find most of these barriers to be reusable and find it easier to discuss products that seem to have a diminishing return on the ability to reuse them which would be and of the soil filled barriers like HESCO (or similar), Defencell, and traditional sandbags.

We also believe larger Water Tube systems (20”+ in protective height) are not as easy to reuse and often purported. This is especially true for Water Tube systems that have multiple membrane layers like an outer protective layer and inner tube.

Through the course of use, and reuse, Water Tubes tend to experience punctures (which are generally repairable) and can be heavy to work with due to residual water weight inside between uses. These products often develop small punctures when drug across rough surfaces like concrete, thorny surfaces, and even ‘twiggy’ weeds and grasses that are not soft like sod-type grasses.

Logistics

NOAQ Boxwall, Geodesign Flood Barriers, Inero Flood Barriers, Airfoil Designs and NOAQ Tubewall perform well on the logistic front with a tolerable performance by Water Tubes. This is predominately because they package away well into a small cube as far as storage space and shipping expense.

WATER PUMPS – THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE

D uring a flood event, the water table is above the level of the ground the flood barrier is sitting on. Therefore, you can expect water to be working it’s way under any flood barrier. For a quick passing flood event, this is generally not a problem but…..if you are expecting flood water for an extended period of time, you can expect wetness on the ‘dry side’ of the flood barrier. Over time, depending on how much space there is between the flood barrier and the structure being protected, this could prove problematic.

Also, water may be falling from the sky, and draining off your roof which will also start to accumulate. Watch for this and if possible, try to make sure your gutters drain onto the ‘wet side’ of your flood barrier.

Depending on the size of the pump you get, they are generally expensive and worth having if the accumulation of water on the ‘dry side’ of a flood barrier is unacceptable.

Also, if you have to evacuate and the power is likely to go out, it may be worth investing in a generator capable of keeping a pump running while you are away.

DIY Home Flood Protection & Plastic

If your home is getting ready to flood and you do not have flood barriers, you still have options for do-it-yourself flood protection!!

This YouTube video below shows how you can cover a flood barrier with plastic to create a water-tight seal against water. However, if you do not have a traditional flood barrier, you can use this same concept and cover about anything with plastic. Your ability to hold the water back will be related to the weight or rigidity of what you are covering with plastic.

For example, let's pretend you only have 10’ wide rolls of plastic to protect your home against 2’ of floodwaters. You can attach the plastic about 3’ up the walls on the outside of your house and this leaves you 7’ of extra plastic which you then lay out on the ground in front of your house. You then must secure this plastic to the ground such that incoming floodwater can get on top of the plastic and not be allowed to get under the plastic. This gives you a 7’ of an impermeable membrane that will drastically slow down the ability of the flood water to seep under barrier and into your home.

DIY flood barriers that you can cover with plastic may include:

Fences
A berm of dirt
‘A-frame’ wooden structures
Heavy flower pots, trash cans filled with water
Straw/Hay bails saturated with water for extra weight
Even a vehicle
BE CREATIVE!! IT COULD BE AN EMERGENCY!

IMPORTANT RULE WHEN USING PLASTIC - Plastic must be against your heavy object or some sort of backing and not be required to support the water weight!! It is only an impermeable layer of protection and it is the weight or rigidity of the surface it is covering that actually stops the water!
Methods to keep plastic secured to the ground or the structure it is attached to may include:

Lawn staples or turf stakes do well in securing plastic to soft surfaces
Perhaps cut a line in your grass and shove the plastic under your sod
Bury it into a trench
Shovel dirt on it or use sandbags if you have them or perhaps fill socks with sand
Spray water on top of your plastic after you lay it out for extra weight
Use 2x4 wooden beam (for example) and screw it into place wherever possible
Gorilla Tape or Flex Tape is effective
HINT: Warm it on the dashboard of your car with the heater make it hot so it sticks better

These may not be ideal scenarios but….you can do something and you are simply trying to keep the water away long enough for the flood waters to recede.

HINTS and OPINIONS for DIY Flood Defense with Plastic

Multiple lines of defense is good! The further away from the structure you can keep the water, the better. This also provides additional room for ‘pooling’ of any water on the ‘dry side’ of your flood barrier and lessens the ability of the water to build up against your home or work it’s way in.
Is it possible to redirect a significant amount of floodwater before it reaches your home?
We like to use 100’ rolls of 6mm plastic sheeting which is found at any hardware store
If you are putting plastic against a house, perhaps use French Drain pipe under the plastic against your structure and a pump so you can remove any water before the pressure of the flood water forces it into your home
Use ¾” plywood to cover a doorway, cover it with plastic, and use Gorilla tape to secure the plastic to the ground in front of your door and up the side walls. This is generally way more effective than sandbags!!
HINT: You could use the plastic and tape method to seal your door and then again on a piece of plywood on the outside of the threshold of the door to create an additional line of defense

Garage doors seem to buckle from the weight of floodwater at about 18” – Be Aware!

CONCLUSION ON DIY FLOOD DEFENSE

As an ex-infantryman, I am a strong believer in multiple lines of defense and if a stupid idea works, it may not be a stupid idea!! Keep the faith and keep fighting!!! It’s not over until it’s over and every little step you can take, may make the difference in keeping your home dry and avoiding the devastating effects of floodwater in your home!!!!!!!

If you have flood vulnerabilities and are interested in feedback specific to your location, we are always happy to help. We want to help, we like to help, and enjoy being considered a source of knowledge and support during a time of need. Whether you are interested in a traditional flood barrier or advice on DIY flood barriers and DIY flood protection during a time of need, we are here to help!!!

Please share this resource with anybody you know who may benefit from reading it and we always appreciate any feedback or online reviews you care to spend the time submitting.

Thanks, and STAY DRY!!!!

Keith Anderson 

Flood Defense Group – CEO

keith.anderson@flooddefensegroup.com

1-208-585-1815

DISCLAIMER – This document is written in effort to help people when it comes to flood defense operations. These opinions are put together in good faith out of experience in the field of flood defense but are exclusively up to the end user to endorse or deploy. Flood Defense Group does not assume liability for suggestions, advice, feedback, or the performance of any flood barrier outside of product warranties for defective materials should we supply you with flood barriers.

Examples of how to modify a HESCO Barrier

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 22:59:53 GMT

Introduction:

Flood Defense Group is the USA distributor of HESCO Bastion, and we are regularly called upon to help our customers build HESCO in the field, and these are examples of how to modify a Hesco Barrier.

During the process of building HESCO barriers, we have encountered numerous situations where we chose to modify the product to solve a variety of problems. This is a compilation of situations and scenarios where we chose to modify our HESCO Bastion flood barriers which we have documented for general awareness.

Disclaimer: This document is not meant as advice but rather a presentation of what we have done in modifying this product, which may be useful to your own applications. Flood Defense Group regularly modifies this product when we believe the situation calls for it, but these modifications are done solely at the risk and final endorsement of the end user. Flood Defense Group does not assume liability for the final outcome of any flood barrier installation or its performance beyond a manufacturer’s warranty covering product defect.

Let's get started!

Modify HESCO to Create Buttress Walls or Anchors

It is simple and inexpensive to install ‘buttress walls’ or ‘buttress cells’ to a line of HESCO Bastion for added stability as desired. This is well described as creating 90-degree angles within a HESCO wall for additional stability or reinforcement.
These photos show how we were able to take a few cells of HESCO and attach them to a main line of HESCO Bastion at a 90-degree angle where the floodwall ties into to an earthen
berm. This is an easy method to add additional reinforcement to any HESCO barrier in strategic locations like this which may benefit from some reinforcement.

Perhaps this could be considered ‘overkill’, but the speed, ease, and minimal expense associated with simply adding some buttress cells onto a HESCO wall does provide added comfort when floodwaters arrive and are near the top of your barrier! These buttress cells can be added during construction or even years later as desired.

EXAMPLE: In this example, there is a wall of HESCO that is leaning. This is happening because the lower units were not compacted during construction and the weight of the fill material in the upper units is causing the structure to settle and lean.

In this example, buttress cells could be sporadically added to prevent further leaning of this wall.

BUTTRESS CELLS CAN BE ADDED DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF YOUR PROJECT OR LATER!!

Modify HESCO to Tie Into a Levee or Earthen Berm Without Digging into it!!

We must regularly tie/end a HESCO flood barrier into existing levees or berms. There are two common methods of doing this.

1) Dig a hole into your berm, place/fill the HESCO within this keyhole, and backfill around your barrier upon completion

2) Modify the HESCO Bastion by cutting it down to size such that it appears to disappear into the berm without digging into the berm at all

GENERAL RULE: For flood defense applications, we suggest you NOT dig into a levee or an earthen embankment

SUPPORTING RULE: Digging into the ground creates loose soil. Loose soil plus moving flood water creates erosion. Erosion during a flood event quickly creates or supports cascading effects of disaster.

It is our preference to go with option 2 and not dig into a berm or levee . We like to modify the HESCO Bastion to conform to the earthen berm. This is a fantastic method because it prevents erosion vulnerability during a flood event by keeping existing vegetation and root structures within the ground, undisturbed, and functioning to provide erosion mitigation during a flood event. This is easily done by taking a new unit of HESCO Bastion and completely disassembling it. You can then modify/cut the HESCO panels as required, and reconnect it one cell at a time while you conform individual cells you are creating to the embankment you are tying into. It is relatively quick and simple……especially when compared to the ill-advised technique of digging into a levee.

Step 1 – Butt a unit of HESCO as close as possible to the levee you are tying into such that the HESCO remains level and fill it

Step 2 – Take an individual panel, with the geotextile attached, and cut the welded wire mesh in a manner that the panel conforms to the levee you are tying into. (do this on each side of a given cell you are creating) NOTE: Make sure that the geotextile is correctly lined around each new cell you create to prevent soil from escaping. NOTE: When you disassemble a full unit for ‘parts’, focus on ripping out the staples and only taking out the center diapragram panels. This will leave you two ‘face panels’ that are connected with geotextile which is helpful when putting these cells together. NOTE: You can generally do this without ever having to cut the geotextile.

Step 3 – Cut your internal ‘diaphragm panel’ to match the ground and connect your two face panels

Step 4 – Fill the HESCO such that it ‘disappears’ into the levee

Honorable Mention: Modify HESCO to Conform to Stairs This is exactly the same as modifying HESCO to conform to a levee or earthen embankment except that in this case…….you are modifying it to transition up stairs by simply cutting the welded wire mesh to match the footprint it is sitting on!

Modify a HESCO to Pass Through Immovable Pipes, Cables, and Utilities

We enjoy working with this product in difficult locations such as this because it is easy to modify for a good fit when the situation requires. In this example, the barrier had to transition through the pipes pictured and into the berm on the left side of the photo. The photos below show the steps to take when it is necessary to work around pipes or similar obstructions that cannot be moved.

Step 1 – We started by placing a unit of HESCO Bastion on either side of the pipes as seen in the photo to the photos below.

Step 2 – Wire the two units together around the pipes to be sealed. This can be done in a variety of different ways but in this example, we did the following steps:

A) We cut two strips of a single square strip of the welded wire mesh and attached it vertically to the HESCO Bastion units on either side of the pipes as shown NOTE: These strips allow you working space and an anchor point for step B
B) We then cut strips of welded wire mesh which were transitioned from side to side and between the pipes
C) Use a coil on either side of the pipes to screw the wire mesh pieces together and
therefore, connect the sections of HESCO Bastion on either side of the pipes.

Step 3 – Line your modified cell with geotextile fabric and carefully fill the dirt/sand up and around the pipes making sure the geotextile forms a complete seal around the pipe and that fill material cannot escape. Compact the fill material in 1’ lifts throughout the filling process.

NOTE: We normally do not use water to create compaction but in this case, we did use water to ensure the sand was consolidated and well compact around the pipes throughout this cell prior to stacking the 2nd layer high HESCO Bastion.

Step 4 – Spray Foam Seal for Good Measure
In this case, because of the number of pipes, we felt a layer of spray foam around the point of entry of the pipes into the HESCO Bastion was a good idea as foam is a great tool in sealing up areas where seepage may occur during a flood event. NOTE: Don’t forget, Spray Foam is a wonderful tool in sealing up gaps that may occur within your flood defense perimeter!

How to Create a Gap Closure Using HESCO

Sometimes, it is important to maintain access to a building when surrounding it with flood barriers. Often, when preparing for an anticipated flood that may take a long time to arrive, there is a need to maintain access to a building or location while also being able to seal it off quickly prior to incoming flood waters. This is an example, where we were able to completely surround a water treatment facility while also leaving access to it. This was done by simply leaving a small section of the HESCO Bastion empty while also making sure the length of these empty cells is the correct length to simply close the gap by pinning these empty cells to the opposite side of the gap and thus ‘close the gap’ immediately prior to a flood.

Common examples include:
- Gap closures to leave access to buildings
- Gap closures to leave roads and railroad tracks open until the last minute
- Gap closures anywhere you would want to pass through a flood barrier during times when flooding is not expected and access is required.

How to Add Thickness to a HESCO Structure at No Extra Cost

This structure spanned 2,000 linear feet and was a 3:3:3:2 stacked structure. However, no extra HESCO was purchased for the 3 center rows which saved the customer from having to purchase 6,000 linear feet of product!!! In this case, here were the steps:

Step 1 Stretch out two rows of HESCO side by side

Step 2 Remove one of the end panels at every join (At every connection, there are two panels pinned together. However, you only need 1 panel and can therefore use the 2nd panel)

Step 3 Screw the ‘extra panels’ to each of the two rows of HESCO running side by side (This gives you added thickness while connecting the two rows together)

Step 4 Fill the two outer rows of HESCO

Step 5 Fill the ‘Hollow Center’ to completion

NOTE: You will have an extra panel in the center about every 2-3 cells

NOTE: For flood defense applications, we suggest using geotextile intermittently within the ‘hollow center’ to prevent water from somehow being able pipe through a wall

NOTE: This requires the helical coils to be snipped at the end where they are bent, removed, and screwed back into place as you create the configuration detailed herein

Modify HESCO to Fit a Smaller Footprint Space

Space This an example of how you can modify a HESCO flood barrier to make it thinner. In this case, we were installing flood barriers at the Las Vegas water treatment facility and found that the HESCO was 6” thicker than the base it was supposed to sit on. The solution was to unscrew the helical coils on one side of the entire stretch where the barrier did not fit, move the face panels inward by 6”, and re-screw the helical coils back into place such that the thickness of the barrier was 6” thinner.

NOTE: Some staples within the geotextile needed to be pulled out during this process to allow the face panels to move inward. The geotextile was not cut during this process. We did go back and cut out the extra 6” of wire mesh that can be seen protruding

Step 1 Remove helical coils on either side of a face panel

Step 2 Push the face panel inward to the desired location NOTE: You will have to remove some staples within the geotextile to allow you to push the face panel further into the cell.

Step 3 Re-Screw your coil to the wire mesh of the internal diagram panels at the desired location and your face panel. (as seen in the photo)

Step 4 Cut any protruding wire mesh as desired WARNING: When cutting the welded wire mesh, the location where the wire was cut is sharp.

Modification of HESCO Face Panels Around Immovable Obstructions

Similar to the modification above, we had a requirement to push back a single face panel of the HESCO barrier in order to allow access to entry control electronics. This is a fantastic example of how you can move a single face panel of the HESCO when working around obstructions like this.

How to Repair a HESCO Flood Barrier

This is a quick and easy sequence used when repairing a damaged unit of HESCO. If the wire mesh is not bent or bulging out in any way, it is not necessary to remove it and you can simply overlap the repair panel over the damaged area.

Step 1: Identify the unit to be fixed
Step 2: Cut out damaged material and remove any soil that spills out such that a new panel can be freely attached without obstruction from the dirt.

NOTE: If the wire of the damaged unit is not significantly damaged, it can often be left in place and the repair panel simply overlaps the damaged panel
Step 3: Prepare a single panel of the same size as the one being repaired by taking a single panel with extra fabric on each side and a coil which is attached or ‘screwed on’ to each side of the panel
Step 4: Attach the replacement panel (or panels) to the unit being repaired using coils and pins provided to create a join and ensure the extra fabric lines into the newly repaired basket to ensure a tight ‘seal’ from leakage of the fill material.
Step 5: Backfill and top off repaired cell with fill material.

Finished View: In this example, multiple coils were screwed together in creating this join as discussed during the inspection.

How to Connect an Empty HESCO to a Full HESCO

Step 1 Remove the end panel of the new HESCO unit to be joined
a) Remove the helical coils on either side of the panel being removed
b) Remove the staples holding the geotextile to the panel being removed (NOTE: You should never have to cut the geotextile fabric)
Step 2 Screw the helical coils back into place now that the end panel has been removed
Step 3 Use a joining pin or any of the methods detailed below to connect the empty HESCO to the full HESCO
Step 4 Use a zip tie to connect the fabric of the new HESCO to the full HESCO cell you are connecting so it is ready to be filled

Different Methods to Make Connections with HESCO Bastion

Empty Coil Method

Step 1 Pin (or screw) a single coil to the coil of the full unit you are connecting to
NOTE: This single coil will be loose such that is has the ‘play’ within it making the connection of a new unit easier.
Step 2 Pin the coil of the new you need to connect to the ‘empty coil’ you pinned to the full unit

Screw the Coil to the Coil Method

Step 1 Take a single coil and simply screw it to the coil you are attaching to.
NOTE: This example shows a coil being screwed to a coil AND a panel of the HESCO. This is an excellent example of how you can make your joins if you do not have joining pins.
NOTE: The top and bottom of the coils are bent during fabrication to prevent them from unscrewing. You have to cut off about 1” of the bent part of the coil at the top and bottom of the coil such that you have a factory curve of the coil and not bent.

Pin the Coil to the Wire Panel Method

Step 1 Take a single coil and mash it into the wire mesh wherever you want to make the connection
Step 2 Insert the joining rod into the coil from behind (or inside) the wire mesh

How to ‘harvest coils’ with HESCO

During the process of modifying HESCO, it is common to need extra coils. This often leads to removing coils from another unit of HESCO and therefore, losing a good cell (or box) within a strand of HESCO boxes. This technique will save you money by preventing loss of good material when extra coils are needed.
Description: Every time two HESCO units are normally connected by joining the helical coils with a joining pins provided, you can harvest x2 coils and x2 pins without wasting any material.
Step 1 Remove the 2 coils at any place you would normally connect with a joining rod NOTE: You will need small bolt cutters to snip the bent portion at the coils prior to unscrewing)
Step 2 Join the material to be connected re-screwing a single coil around the panels being connected
RESULT: Your HESCO units are connected, and you now have an extra coil and an extra pin from any/every connection point you do this to.

Modified HESCO to Create an Impromptu Rock Gabion for Scour Protection

This is a great example of how you can completely take apart a HESCO barrier and create something totally different by using the coils and wire mesh. In this case, we cut the wire mesh panels, wrapped/screwed them together and around the guard rail posts to act as an anchor to which we then attached HESCO panels. This allowed us to fill them with rock like a traditional ‘gabion’. This was done because there was serious erosion and loose soils at the base of the flood barrier on the road above creating a significant vulnerability of scouring and undermining of the flood barrier. By doing this, we were able to further protect the slope from failure during a flood event by providing scour protection.

Modify a HESCO Face Panel to Join 2 Sections

This is one of our most common modifications. During a HESCO flood barrier deployment, it is common to have multiple crews building HESCO at multiple sections of a floodwall at the same time. There will often come a time when two sections need to be connected which generally calls for a ‘modified face panel’. You can see how a face panel was cut to fit and subsequently attached using the helical coils at the connection points. NOTE: Make sure there is extra geotextile on either side of this modified panel. This extra geotextile overlaps the area of the join within the barrier so there is no loss of fill material out the corners during the filling process. We will use zip ties to secure these geotextile flaps into place on either end of the modified panel during the filling process.

Irregular Tie-ins with HESCO Using Spray Foam

Normally, we always make sure to join the HESCO flood barriers at the coils with the pins provided. Sometimes, there are obstructions that prevent the HESCO from being joined properly. In this case, there was a fence that the property owner did not want to cut so we worked around it. You can see how we butted the HESCO flood barriers as close together as we could on either side of the obstruction (a fence) and proceeded to fill the HESCO cells on either side. During the filling process, the end panel of the HESCO expanded slightly which reduced the amount of space that water can pass through. We then used spray foam to seal this gap. Spray foam is extremely effective at closing gaps or sealing points of potential seepage within a flood wall and a fantastic tool to have on hand!

HESCO Shooting Ranges – How to Protect HESCO from Bullet Impacts

A ‘HESCO Shooting Range’ is a common application for this product. The ballistic stopping capabilities of soil and sand makes this an amazing product for this type of application. Shooting enthusiasts regularly use this product to create ballistic backstops, wing walls, and elaborate shoot-houses out of this product.

Sometimes it is nice to protect the high impact areas from bullet strikes immediately behind a target!

Within this photo, you can see how a section of the welded wire mesh was cut and connected to the HESCO in order to create wire mesh ‘extensions’ protruding off of the barrier. Two 2x4 wooden planks were then sandwiched/screwed together with over the wire mesh extensions. This creates ‘studs’ on which you can screw 3/4” plywood and fill the void between the HESCO and the plywood.
By doing this, you can ‘clad’ your HESCO with soil and isolate your lead within this ‘soil cladding’. When it is time to replace a specific backstop, you can remove the plywood and ‘soil cladding’ it retained. You can then replace the plywood and re-fill the area between the plywood and the HESCO.
Step 1: Cut strips of 3-4 squares of the wire mesh to create ‘wire extensions’
Step 2: Connect these wire mesh strips to the HESCO
Step 3: Sandwich a couple 2x4’s over these wire mesh strips to create ‘studs’
Step 4: Attach ¾” plywood to the studs NOTE: Use washers on the screw heads to better take the pressure of holding the soil fill
Step 5: Backfill sand to fill the void between the HESCO and the plywood NOTE: Tarpaper can be used within the void to extend the life of your plywood
FINAL NOTE: This is a wonderful technique to protect HESCO geotextile from excessive round impacts. However, the geotextile that this product is comprised of has an amazing capability to continue functioning after countless round impacts. Over the course of time, a cement slurry application (seen below) may also provide a similar function in protecting the HESCO……while not isolating the lead projectiles.

How to Extend the Life of HESCO against UV Rays

UV rays generally dictate the lifespan of a HESCO Barrier. If you want to use HESCO for longer term applications, you need to protect the fabric from the effects of UV exposure. These are the most common ways of extending the lifespan of a HESCO barrier by protecting the geotextile fabric.
1) Oil Based Paint
Oil based primers and paint do a great job sticking to the geotextile fabric while offering great UV protection. It is generally done in a couple thick coats to make sure your units are well coated. Prior to a paint application, it would be prudent to run around and clean any sand off the areas to be coated with a broom and/or a blower.

2) Cement Slurry
This has always been our tested, and favorite application. It is simple, effective, and generally inexpensive.

EXAMPLE: This is a picture I took in Afghanistan of a product that was a knock-off of HESCO Bastion that was sold out of China. The geotextile fabric in a HESCO Bastion is heavily stabilized to protect it from UV rays and UV degradation whereas the Chinese product in this photo was not. This knock-off product was experiencing total failure from degradation of the geotextile in less than 2 years. In effort to help (the Canadian Army), I experimented with the cement slurry application and it worked beautifully!! It stopped all degradation of exposed surfaces and stayed in great shape for the following 7 years that I was in country and able to monitor it. This is an example of how well a cement slurry application does on a geotextile fabric that was woefully inferior to the quality to be expected from HECO Bastion. In this picture, you can see the difference in weathering between the surfaces I did not spray vs the surfaces that I did spray.

3) Shade through Vegetation
If you live in an environment that allow it, vegetation like trees, vines, and bushes that shade the geotextile fabric do an amazing job of extending the lifespan of the geotextile fabric!

How to apply cement slurry to a HESCO barrier

Steps for a cement slurry application:

Step 1 Screened Sand

You can purchase screened sand screen it yourself by shoveling sand onto a wire screen that removes any stones large enough to clog your cement slurry gun

Step 2 Mix Sand/Water/Cement
Mix approximately 1 part screened sand to 1 part cement to 1.5 parts water into a cement mixer. You will need some sort of container to transfer this material into the hopper of your spray gun. You may change the ratio of the solution until you find the right consistency but once you find it, make sure you are using the exact same ratio because if you are not consistent with your ratio, you will be able to see the variations as the slurry dries. This would not matter for function, but we like it when things look good too!!

Step 3 Apply the slurry mixture in 2 coats to prevent running
Pour the mixture into the hopper of your spray gun, and apply it to the HESCO Bastion. Similar to the paint, I suggest doing it in 2 coats. This provides a great coating with a nice finish. If you try to spray too much at once, it will be runny and create unsightly runs within the sprayed concrete. NOTE: It is a good idea to wet the units first. I have been told that the concrete will bond better to the wet surface while drying but I have done this on both wet and dry surfaces without any premature cracking or adverse effects NOTE: You are wanting to protect the HESCO Bastion from the sun while also providing extra sealing of the product against seepage. With this in mind, I would pay extra attention to spray into the coils/panels pinned together at each join because this is the area prone to the most seepage

a. Outer fi nish
Once you are done with this coating, you can freely paint it for general beautification purposes as desired.
b. Additional Thoughts & Beautification
One common addition to a HESCO Bastion being left in place for an extended period of time is a concrete cap. This is commonly done to prevent sand from blowing out of the units and making a mess as well as prevents weeds from growing out of them. If you choose to do this, I would fill all units to about 1”+- from the top and simply cap the final 1”-2” with concrete. This is not required but would be more aesthetically pleasing for a longer term application. A thinner cap would be easier to take out when the time comes to remove your barrier.

Cement Slurry Breakdown of Requirements:

Texture Gun (about $80) - https://www.dropshiptraders.co.uk/product/clarke-air-texture-gun-ctg8/

Cement Mixer

Air Compressor

Water

Shovel

Screen

Measuring bucket/can for mixture rations1 80 lb bag of quickcrete every 8 ‘faces’ of a HESCO Bastion cell (approximately)

2-3 workers

How to Remove HESCO using the HESCO Lifting Beam

https://www.facebook.com/flooddefensegroup/videos/3233636996962842
This link shows the use of the ‘HESCO Lifting Beam’ and is a fantastic tool to recover your HESCO flood barriers. This tool widely used by federal and municipal organizations who are regularly called to erect HESCO flood barriers and take them down after floodwater recedes on an ongoing and regular basis.

NOTE: HESCO barriers recovered with a lifting beam are regularly reused and can be reused multiple times. However, once this product has been removed the first time, there are no warranties or liability associated with product against failure because it cannot be guaranteed to perform as a brand new unit has been tested/expected to perform.

Additional Modification Capabilities – Fun Inclusion

Create a Raised Platform with HESCO

This is a fun example showing how you can use HESCO to create a raised platform. In this case, the Italian Army needed to raise a HESCO guard post for interlocking fields of view with other guard posts so they simply created a raised platform using HESCO.
They then went and modified the HESCO units to create stairs to their guard post.

Modified HESCO to Protect Sewage Pipes Against Debris Impact This is one of our most unique, non-traditional applications of this product during a flood event and is a great testament of how this product can be taken apart and reassembled to creatively solve challenging problems. In this case, there was a sewer pipe below a pedestrian bridge that had been damaged from floodwater and debris impact in the past. With monsoons coming and a very real threat of imminent flooding, it was important to devise a way to protect this sewer pipe from damaging debris impacts during a flood event from both the side and below. To solve this problem, the HESCO was completely taken apart and clad to the side of the bridge, securing it with zip ties, tie wire, and parachute chord. To protect the pipe from below, we were able to wrap/screw sections of wire mesh around the steel beams on either side at the bottom of the bridge as an anchor for additional wire panels to span below the bridge. This was designed to mitigate against floating debris from going under the bridge and somehow damaging the pipe by getting stuck or wedged against the pipe during a flood event.

NOTE: This example of wrapping the wire mesh around the steel beams of the bridge using wire/coils is similar to the gabion example above where we were able to wrap the wire mesh around the guard rail posts. In both of these examples, wrapping the wire around fixed objects can provide wonderful ‘anchor points’ when getting involved in unique modifications like this.

Field Expedient Reinforcements or Anchoring for a HESCO Barrier

This is an extremely simple and effective way to reinforce a line of HESCO by simply attaching your floodwall to a tree!

NOTE: Similarly, you can use timber beams within the HESCO during the filling process to support roof structures for houses, sheds, bunkers, guard towers, ect..

In this example, it was immediately after a forest fire where debris flows already caused massive flooding. Emergency action was being taken to prevent debris flows from further flooding homes and the greater community and the ground soils were extremely erosive. If catastrophic scouring were to take place at this location, the tree would have kept the HESCO from being pushed away by an overwhelming debris flow.

Cut a HESCO Barrier in Half!

Here, a 4’ tall HESCO Floodline Barrier was cut in half to create a 6’ wall. It is up the customer to endorse this technique , but it worked really well. It allowed the customer to create a 2’ version of the 4’ tall barrier which could then be vertically stacked. It was a simple and fast solution and here are the steps the contractor on this project took:

Cut a 4’ tall HESCO directly in half to create a 2’ barrier using a concrete saw (Figure 1)
1 strip of the 3” weldmesh wire was cut off the bottom of the face panels (Figure 2)
NOTE: This made the center diaphragm panels sit inside the lower HESCO (Figure 3)
The newly modified HESCO was stacked directly on top of the existing HESCO that was 4’ tall to easily create a 6’ tall floodwall. (Figure 4)

END

We will continue to expand onto this list of ‘HESCO Modifications’ which we believe to be a great form of reference material to better understand the capabilities of modifying HESCO. If you have a HESCO project and are in need of some HESCO material, Flood Defense Group stocks the HESCO barriers and are happy to provide a quote or project feedback as desired.

Keith Anderson - CEO

www.flooddefensegroup.com

1-208-585-1815

Flood Defense Group uses a variety of flood barriers to stop catastrophic flooding in Chinle, Arizona

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 21:41:43 GMT

SITUATION

In support of the US federal response to flooding, the USACE National Flood Fight Center out of Rock Island, IL called upon Flood Defense Group to redeploy to Chinle, AZ to assist with repairing sections of their earthen levee by using the HESCO flood barrier. During this visit, their earthen levee failed, and our mission changed from attempting to plug holes in a levee to redirecting the primary channel of the local river/wash toward an alternate area within the riverbed and stop floodwater that was actively flooding the community of Chinle, AZ.

Primary Problem – Immediate Scouring

Scouring is when moving water washes away (or erodes) the existing soil, sand, or rock as it passes by. You can see in the picture above how the earthen levee is eroding. This is happening because soil below the level of the water is eating away, or ‘scouring’, the earth below the water and causing berm to fall into the water where it is washed downstream.

This was a large riverbed with a deep layer of loose sand and anything we put into the rushing water immediately suffered from scouring/erosion of the sand below it. It was similar to the way sand washes away from under your feet when you are standing in the waves at a sandy beach.

The full resources of the USACE were being brought to bear which included some heavy machinery that was trying to create a levee with surrounding sand and rock that was available. The problem was that the river would erode away the fill material about as fast as it could be placed in the river. After 3 days with 2 front-end loaders, 2 backhoes, a bulldozer, and 3 skid steers, they were still unable to divert the water and the town of Chinle, Airzona continued to fill with water.

Learning through trial and error: Attempt #1 – Unlined HESCO with Sandbags Inside

We had HESCO flood barriers available but we knew the power of the river against the product would immediately want to push it downstream before we had a chance to fill it. To solve this problem, we decided to remove the fabric from within the individual cells so water could pass through the barrier while we filled it with sandbags. If we were building the HESCO on some sort of river rock base, we may have been more successful. Unfortunately, the problem remained that it would be sitting on highly erosive sand and under scouring was immediate and constant.

RESULT

It was initially promising but as we worked our way into the floodwater, the sand around the base of product was quickly lost to scouring. This was causing the product to lean as the sand it was sitting on was washed away.

LEARNING POINTS

We could have created some buttress cells within the line of HESCO (seen below) to reinforce it and/or keep it from falling over as sand scoured away from below the barrier

A plastic liner over the barrier and laying on the river bottom in front of it would help mitigate against scouring but in this case, the plastic liner skirt would need to be done simultaneously with filling the HESCO with enough sandbags to stop/redirect the water which would have been extremely challenging

NOTE: When building a traditional soil filled HESCO flood barrier in an area where scouring could be a big problem, we like to take the additional step of placing about 2 layers of sandbags within the bottom of the HESCO itself to mitigate against under scouring from sucking out all fill material when confronted with under scouring.

Attempt 2 – NOAQ Boxwall in long sections

We needed a solution to redirect the water while also attempting to deal with the immediate effects of scouring that was taking place.

To do this, Flood Defense Group was able to independently mobilize the NOAQ Boxwall product to the Chinle Chapter of the Navajo Nation because of how it immediately redirects water without the requirement of fill material. We knew we would be fighting the immediate effects of scouring and we wanted to deploy large sections of the NOAQ Boxwall as quickly as possible and cover it with a liner to prevent scouring. This solution arrived in the back of a pick-up truck and was hand carried into place!

RESULT

The NOAQ Boxwall comes in pieces that are each 3’ long. In this case, we wanted to link together 45’ long sections of this product and cover it with plastic in an attempt to fight the immediate scouring that would take place. However, this product is not designed to be carried in 45’ sections that were pre-joined and some of the joins where coming disconnected while we carried it into place.

LEARNING POINTS

If we want to deploy more than about 3 or 4 units of the NOAQ Boxwall flood barrier all at once, additional steps should be taken to ensure they stay connected.

In the next attempt, we simply screwed 12’ long boards to them that were overlapped so we could carry long sections.
(This was done outside of manufacturers suggested operating procedures and naturally negated any product warranties.

Flood Defense Group loves the capability of cutting, screwing and modifying this product in a variety of ways which would naturally forego any manufacturer warranties but... the ability to cut/modify this product proves extremely useful, simple, and super effective.)

Attempt 3 – NOAQ Bnoxwall in Long Sections Screwed to Wood – Winning!!

It was extremely important that we could quickly install long sections of the NOAQ Boxwall. This was because every time a section was installed, all the water was being redirected toward the leading edge of our flood barrier. Therefore, after each section, the water would become deeper, faster, more erosive, and even more challenging to work with.

To solve the problem of our units becoming disconnected while we carried them into place, we simply screwed the product to long pieces of wood below them such that we had multiple sections of about 30’ each. We could carry these into place in a single piece, place them into the water, and immediately cover them with a plastic liner to prevent water from scouring the sand from below them. This liner at the base of the barrier is commonly referred to as a ‘skirt’ or an ‘apron’ which is further illustrated below.

By deploying the NOAQ Boxwall to redirect the incoming floodwater, we were able to create a somewhat dry working space behind the barrier where we could build a longer-term defensive line using HESCO barriers.

NOTE: For most working surfaces we encounter, we do not experience the same level of erosion and under scouring that we experienced in this situation. In this case, we were building on sand while fighting the rushing floodwater within a working environment that was hard to access. It was a challenge!

Attempt 3.5 – HESCO Flood Barrier Behind the NOAQ Boxwall

In an attempt to create a longer-term capability of redirecting the water, we were able to stretch out a line of HESCO, with buttress cells attached, in the dry space behind the NOAQ Boxwall. We covered the HESCO with plastic sheeting that was pulled out to also create a ‘skirt’ at the base of the HESCO which we then weighed down with sandbags.

RESULT

Water was able to push many of the sandbags off the skirt of the HESCO and under scouring was able to take hold.

LEARNING POINTS

Our initial line of HESCO did not have sandbags attached to the plastic liner skirt which were washed away and allowed scouring to take place.

We knew scouring would be a problem and did not fill the HESCO past the water point in order to prevent them from getting top heavy if/when a lean caused by scouring began to occur.

The buttress cells were crucial in holding the barrier in place as the ground scoured out below it.

Even though this is not the result we were looking for, this initial HESCO line of defense continued to hold the water back with overtopping, did not fall over from the scouring, or experience material failure. This is a good example of testing a product to its limit and we were happy with how it held strong!

FINAL STEPS – CREATE ADDITIONAL LINES OF DEFENSE

Once we diverted the water and created a foothold within the riverbed that allowed us to bring in machinery, we were able to fortify our flood defenses and create additional layers of protection.

Additional Details

It took about 2-3 hours for local Navajo volunteers to redirect the river with the NOAQ Boxwall by hand

2 front-end loaders, 2 backhoes, a bulldozer, and 3 skid steers were unable to redirect this river after 3 days of operation

Approximately 1,000 linear feet of barrier redirected floodwaters past nearly 1.5 miles of vulnerable levee

SPECIAL THANKS

This is a special thanks to Heber City, Utah who had flood concerns of their own but lent their NOAQ Boxwall flood barriers to help out Chinle Chapter of the Navajo Nation during a time of urgent need. Heber City really stepped up to help!

NOTABLE MENTION

Thank you to the local Navajo volunteers who came out and worked such long hours without complaint. You were always positive, hardworking, resourceful, and never complained about ANYTHING! You ‘drove on’ to mission completion of stopping the floodwaters effecting your community and beyond in safeguarding your community! BAM! Go Navajo Nation!

Flood Defense Group Protects Oil & Gas Facilities in Louisiana from Mississippi River Flooding And Modifications to a HESCO Bastion Floodwall

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 10:53:00 GMT

The post Flood Defense Group Protects Oil & Gas Facilities in Louisiana from Mississippi River Flooding And Modifications to a HESCO Bastion Floodwall appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

Flood Defense Group Secures 2-Year Contract as the Primary Flood Barrier Supplier to US Government

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:31:00 GMT

The post Flood Defense Group Secures 2-Year Contract as the Primary Flood Barrier Supplier to US Government appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

Buy Flood Barriers In California

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 12:33:00 GMT

The post Buy Flood Barriers In California appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

Flood Defense Group wins statewide emergency flood barrier supply contracts for the states of Iowa AND Lousiana

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 14:58:00 GMT

The post Flood Defense Group wins statewide emergency flood barrier supply contracts for the states of Iowa AND Lousiana appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

Flood Defense Group supports the USACE and New Mexico National Guard in the deployment of HESCO flood barriers in recent burn scar areas and showcased an impressive collection of unique product mod...

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 12:13:00 GMT

The post Flood Defense Group supports the USACE and New Mexico National Guard in the deployment of HESCO flood barriers in recent burn scar areas and showcased an impressive collection of unique product modifications appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

Flood Defense Group provides HESCO Flood Barrier training to the USACE in support of the US federal emergency flood barrier supply contract to the National Flood Fight Center – Rock Island, IL

Wed, 04 May 2022 12:55:00 GMT

The post Flood Defense Group provides HESCO Flood Barrier training to the USACE in support of the US federal emergency flood barrier supply contract to the National Flood Fight Center – Rock Island, IL appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

Flood Defense Group supports Taurus Construction in the removal of 3 miles of the HESCO Bastion Flood Barrier for Washoe County, Nevada

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 11:45:00 GMT

The post Flood Defense Group supports Taurus Construction in the removal of 3 miles of the HESCO Bastion Flood Barrier for Washoe County, Nevada appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

Flood Defense Group wins competitive bid for the supply contract of flood barriers to the State of Iowa

Tue, 04 May 2021 11:01:00 GMT

The post Flood Defense Group wins competitive bid for the supply contract of flood barriers to the State of Iowa appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

How to tie your flood barrier into a building or a wall?

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 09:35:00 GMT

The post How to tie your flood barrier into a building or a wall? appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

Hurricane Season 2020

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:47:00 GMT

The post Hurricane Season 2020 appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

Flood Defense Group sends over a mile of flood barriers to combat flooding on Lake Michigan

Wed, 13 May 2020 20:17:00 GMT

The post Flood Defense Group sends over a mile of flood barriers to combat flooding on Lake Michigan appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

Flood Protection for Doors – Floodgate by Quickdams Review

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 17:21:00 GMT

The post Flood Protection for Doors – Floodgate by Quickdams Review appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

Defencell & Coastal Erosion Control – The long term ‘temporary solution’ in Southern California

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 10:34:00 GMT

The post Defencell & Coastal Erosion Control – The long term ‘temporary solution’ in Southern California appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

How to protect your home the next time it floods in Houston

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 09:07:00 GMT

The post How to protect your home the next time it floods in Houston appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

What kind of flood defense barrier is best for you?

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 09:37:00 GMT

The post What kind of flood defense barrier is best for you? appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

NOAQ Boxwall Now In Stock

Tue, 07 Nov 2017 10:33:00 GMT

Flood Defense Group finally have the NOAQ Boxwall in stock within the USA and had to experiment with it right away. This video was taken in a drainage canal in Houston, Texas and we cannot be happier with its performance. The NOAQ Boxwall is not just a static flood defense barrier but can be quickly deployed to effectively combat flash flooding and rushing surface water.

The post NOAQ Boxwall Now In Stock appeared first on Flood Defense Group .

Latest news | Flood Defense Group Supplies Flood Barriers

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Flooding across Washington and California: What homeowners need to know about flood barriers

What Is a Flood Barrier?

What’s Driving the Current Flooding in Washington and California?

Why This Flooding Is Especially Dangerous?

Limited Time to Respond

Floodwaters Exceed Standard Barrier Heights

Fast-Moving Water With Heavy Debris

Erosion Undermining Flood Defenses

Burn Scar Flooding

Flood Barriers That Can Be Ineffective in This Flood Environment

Water-Filled Flood Tubes (Diversion Tubes)

Barriers That Could Float Away

Sandbags

Flood Barriers That Cannot Be Raised

Flood Defense Systems Performing Best in the Current West Coast Flooding Environment

1. HESCO Barriers

Key advantages:

2. Geodesign Flood Barriers ﻿

Key advantages:

3. NOAQ Boxwall Flood Barriers ﻿

Key advantages:

Key Takeaways and Suggestions for Homeowners Planning to Combat Floodwaters

Protect Your Home From Floods

What Are the Best Flood Protection Options for Residential Coastal Homes

Understanding Flood Risks for Coastal Homes

Residential Coastal Flood Barriers: Planning and Deployment

Why Choose Flood Defense Group?

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Your Personalized Flood Protection Plan

What to Know Before Choosing Protection Against Rising Water

What Should You Know Before Choosing the Right Protection Against Rising Water?

Frequently Asked Questions

Take the Next Step Toward Better Protection

What Makes Modern Flood Barriers More Reliable for Rapid Protection?

What Makes Modern Flood Barriers More Reliable for Rapid Protection?

Understanding Practical Flood Protection Options

What Are Portable Water Barrier Solutions

How Do Water Filled Flood Tubes Work

Why Choose Flood Defense Group

Frequently Asked Questions

﻿ Take the Next Step Toward Better Flood Protection

Flood Defense for Oil & Gas: HESCO Barriers in Action

Flood Defense for Oil & Gas Facilities

Custom Solutions with HESCO Bastion

Building Barriers Around Pipes

Tying Floodwalls to Natural Embankments

The Bottom Line

FAQs

The Double Disaster of Forest Fires and Subsequent Flooding

The Double Disaster of Wildfires and Subsequent Flooding

What Type of Flood Barrier Works Best for You?

Introduction:

These factors may include:

Water Filled Flood Barrier Designs

Water Filled Flood Tubes

Muscle Wall Flood Barrier

Air Filled Flood Barrier Design

NOAQ Tubewall

Free Standing Flood Barrier Designs

NOAQ Boxwall Removable Flood Barrier

Geodesign Flood Barrier and Alteau Mobile Flood Barrier

Airfoil Designs

Soil Filled Flood Barrier Designs

HESCO (or similar)

Flood Defense Landscaping

Defencell

GAP CLOSURES and FLOOD DEFENSE LANDSCAPING

Flood Panel Systems for Doors, Windows, and Oversized Openings

Wedge Systems like Dam Easy, Floodgate by Quickdams, or various RAPID systems

Panel Systems like EZ Panel, FRA Panel, Legacy Flood Panel, Flood Logs, and various RAPID systems

Which flood barriers perform best in the following fields below:

PRICE

INSTALLATION SPEED

ACHIEVING HEIGHT

REUSABILITY or EASE OF REUSABILITY

Logistics

WATER PUMPS – THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE

2. Geodesign Flood Barriers

3. NOAQ Boxwall Flood Barriers

Take the Next Step Toward Better Flood Protection