Big Bags USA

While flooding can create disasters anywhere, coastal areas obviously have a higher risk. A single heavy rain can cause thousands of dollars in flood damage - add coastal storm surge and wind-driven waves to the mix, and the results can be devastating. If you live on the coast, be prepared for the dramatic coastal weather and the major coastal hazards they can cause. Hurricanes and  Tropical Storms Among the most thought of natural disasters are hurricanes, such as Katrina and Sandy. These events are remembered for the widespread devastation and the tens of billions of dollars in property damage they caused. Nor'Easters  The same cyclone patterns that bring us hurricanes in the summer and fall, can also bring us devastating winter storms known as Nor'easters. The name comes from the direction the winds come from, as blizzard-force snow and huge waves move onto the coast. These storms form in the Northern Atlantic and can cause just as much destruction as a hu...

Handle the highest flooding demands at a fraction of the cost with Big Bags USA® flood prevention barriers ! There's no other product on the market that can compare to our large polypropylene sandbags. Every Big Bags USA® barrier system is made out of the highest quality materials, right in the heart of the USA, Missouri! Let's take a look at what is included with our Big Bags USA® flood control systems . The Big Bags USA® System One Big Bags USA® system consists of five, one cubit yard sandbags. The dimensions of the system are 40" in height, 36" in width and 180" in length. Our protective flood barrier systems are also stackable for threats higher than the base 40". The light weight, expandable, accordion like sandbags enable one single person to easily move the systems into position. Each individual sandbag is comprised of a woven strength polypropylene. Our polypropylene sandbags offer the highest in UV protection and an impenetrable woven water...

While coastal areas only account for 1/5 of the land in the contiguous 48 states, they account for more than half of the nation's population and housing supply. Just since 1960, these coastal areas have increased in population by 41%. Among the states least prepared for coastal flooding are Florida, Texas and Mississippi. Let's take a look at the increased flood risk and the associated need for better flood control . Increased Coastal Population Continued population increase in coastal areas leads to increased development, which places a greater number of structures at risk of flood damage from coastal hazards. Coastal hazards like storm surge, hurricane force winds and flooding place this population at risk. The risk is even greater if that population is unaware of the natural hazards they could face and the steps they can take towards flood mitigation. In last week's blog , we addressed the fact that six of the top 10 most expensive natural disasters were caused by...

Flooding is a concern all across the United States, but the risk gets particularly higher the closer you get to either coast. Of the top 10 most expensive natural disasters in our nation, 6 of them were caused by coastal storms. Let's take a look at these 6 events: 1. Hurricane Katrina - August 2005 CPI-Adjusted Estimated Costs: $151 Billion The Category 3 hurricane initially impacted the U.S. as a Category 1 near Miami, FL, then as a strong Category 3 along the eastern Louisiana-Western Mississippi coastlines, resulting in severe storm surge damage (maximum surge probably exceeded 30 feet) along the Louisiana-Mississippi-Alabama coasts, wind damage and the failure of parts of the levee system in New Orleans. Inland effects included high winds and some flooding in the states of Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Georgia.  2. Hurricane Sandy - October 2012 CPI-Adjusted Estimated Costs: $67 Billion  Extensive damage across...

Winter is upon us and that could mean some hazardous weather! Winter flooding often happens when heavy snowpack is followed by a warming period. Areas of the country including, IA, MN, WI and IL are predicted to have possible winter flooding this week due to the snow storms that hit last weekend. Big Bags USA® is here to warn you of the winter flooding risks and help you to be prepared for whatever the season my throw at us this year! Winter Flood Risk  While you may think that spring showers are the biggest cause of flooding, the winter months pose quite a threat to widespread flooding across the United States. Let's take a look at a few things that could cause flooding in your area this winter: 1. Ice Jams Long periods of below freezing temperatures can cause the surface of rivers to freeze. When the rise in water level or a thaw causes the ice to break into large chunks, the chunks can become jammed. This situation can result in severe flooding. 2. Snow Melt ...

Big Bags USA® flood control systems can handle the highest demands at a fraction of the costs normally associated with rapid deployed systems. All flood control mitigation plans should include an easily stored product like our systems. Here are 5 reasons Big Bags USA® flood barriers are the best flood protection solution out there! 1. Big Bags USA® flood barriers can be used anywhere.  The flexibility of our barriers allow the product to be used on any and all surfaces without the need for trenching or leveling to get a good seal. Our flood barriers easily conform to railroad tracks, tops of levees, streets, hillsides, over sewer drains and any other uneven topography. The innovated spreader bar can help you deploy in those environments that are unreachable with standard equipment. 2. Big Bags USA® flood barriers carry the highest UV protection available.  Our flood barriers are rated for over 2,200 hours of direct sunlight. Our demonstration systems that are d...

El Ni ñ o is on it's way, but what does that mean for those of us living in the United States? In a previous blog, we discussed what El Ni ñ o is and what to expect from an El Ni ñ o episode. The 2015-2016 El Ni ñ o forecast shows it may be the strongest episode in history. Let's take a look at the strongest El Ni ñ o occurrences on record so that we know what to expect this year and can properly prepare for the event.  1. 1982-1983 El Ni ño - Very Strong The 1982-1983 El Ni ño was the strongest and most devastating weather event of the century . It led to major flooding across the southern United States and a lack of snow in the northern part of the country. In 1982-1983, the U.S. Gulf States and California received excessive rainfall. Portions of central and southern California suffered record-breaking rainfall amounts. The damage consisted of not only flooding, but also mudslides. Some mudslides destroyed communities in a flash, also causing many casualties. ...

With El Niño expected to be the strongest in years, agencies are urging residents on the West Coast, particularly California, to start preparing now. Flood mitigation is key to reducing the damage that El Niño could present. Here are a few tips on how to prepare your home, your vehicle and yourself for this excessive rain that is to come. Preparing Your Home 1. Fix any leaks. - If your home has any leaks, you'll want to fix those before the heavy rains hit. If they go unaddressed, the issues will only worsen with the excessive rain that is to come. 2. Clean out your gutters and downspouts. - It's always a good idea to clean your gutters before the rainy season starts. You'll want to make sure they are free of debris so that rain water can easily flow away from your home. Check for leaks or damage to your gutter system as well. 3. Install a sump pump. - With enough rain, groundwater can invade your basement or garage, even with good drainage systems in place. If...

Did you know Big Bags USA® flood barrier systems can be reused? There's no need to budget for new flood barriers each year! Not only is the bag re-usable, but so is the sand you put in it. You can simply warehouse the bags, sand included for the next use. Having this type of flood protection on hand can help you avoid costly damages from all types of flooding situations. Big Bags USA® Reusable Protection Big Bags USA® flood barriers offer protection from a variety of different flood and water control situations. Due to the versatility of the product, Big Bags USA® can be used anywhere. It easily conforms to railroad tracks, tops of levees, streets, hillsides, over sewer drains and any other uneven topography. 1. Traffic Safety - Our barrier systems are excellent for on the spot traffic barriers. The barriers offer easy deployment from construction barriers to emergency road side disasters. Plus, Big Bags USA® deploys faster than any other barrier on the market making it i...

Are you prepared for whatever El Niño throws at us this year? No matter where you live across the United States, you could be affected by this natural phenomenon. Big Bags USA® is here to help you understand how El Niño works and how you can better prepare for the weather changes that are to come. What is El Niño? El Niño is an irregularly occurring and complex series of climatic changes affecting the equatorial Pacific region and beyond every few years. It is characterized by the appearance of unusually warm, nutrient-poor water in the eastern Pacific Ocean along the equator. El Niño typically occurs in late December. To learn more about how El Niño works, check out this video from Discovery News : 2015-2016 Forecast According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this year's El Niño could rival the strongest on record and is nearly certain to last into the Northern Hemisphere spring of 2016. The "Godzilla" El Niño of 2015-2016 is e...

Big Bags USA® flood barrier systems can be used in a variety of flood & water control situations. From flood control to coastal erosion and slope stabilization, our barrier systems provide an easy, cost effective solution. With the recent coastal flooding, coastal erosion and slope stabilization have been top of mind. The causes of shoreline erosion can be grouped into the following categories: terrestrial forces, aquatic forces and human activities. Let's take a look at each type! Terrestrial Forces Terrestrial forces erode shorelines and carry material to beaches. While these types of erosion are natural processes, human activities can be a contributing cause. Generally, these types of erosion occur on banks and unconsolidated shorelines with no vegetation. These terrestrial forces include: Slumping - the downward movement of a mass of unconsolidated material moving as a unit, commonly caused by groundwater that exerts outward pressure on soil particles, causing the...