Big Bags USA

Floods are one of the worst natural disasters when it comes to damage. The damage caused by flooding can range from property damage to changes in the ecosystem. With the unpredictability of flooding, it is important to be aware of the damage that can occur and always be prepared for the unexpected. At Big Bags USA® , our goal is to help communities with flood mitigation to reduce the damage instead of dealing with the damage after the fact. Let's take a look at the four major types of flood damage you can expect when one of these natural disasters occurs. Vehicle Damage In some instances, flood waters can cause as much damage as a car crash. Your car can be carried away in as little as 1 foot of water depending on the size of the vehicle. It is important not to drive through flood waters for this reason. The flood waters can easily slam your car into another car, a tree or a building, causing structural damage to the car. While these types of damages are easily noticeable, ...

Severe Storms are Affecting States Across the U.S. So far, 2015 has been a year of major flooding across the country. Here at our headquarters in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, we have seen rain everyday for the past week. Hurricane Bill has been soaking states all the way up into the Midwest. Many southern states including Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma have already declared a State of Emergency and as of yesterday, Missouri has also been declared in a State of Emergency. The Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan has been activated. Executive Order Yesterday, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon released an executive order stating that he has been advised by the State Emergency Management Agency that a series of severe storm systems beginning on May 15, 2015, and continuing have caused or have the potential to cause, damage associated with tornadoes, high winds, heavy rains, flooding and flash flooding impacting communities throughout the state of Missouri.  This severe wea...

June 1st marked the beginning of Hurricane Season. If you live anywhere near the coast, even inland, it is important to be prepared for extreme weather this time of year. We have already seen two tropical storms approach us this season and you never know when those types of storms can turn into a hurricane, or how strong the winds and flooding can be. Here are some tips from Travelers.com for you to start getting prepared today! General Preparation Tips Whether its just a hurricane watch or a hurricane warning, it is important to be prepared. What you do during the time leading up to a hurricane can determine how well you weather the storm and how easily you recover from it.  Prepare a survival kit that includes water and non-perishable food for everyone, extra clothes, a portable radio, flashlights and batteries. Plan your evacuation route and leave as soon as an evacuation is ordered. Waiting is not a good idea as it is hard to predict exactly when and where the hurr...

On June 1, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced $180 million in funding available through two Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs:  Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM). With these grants, state, local, tribal and territorial governments will have the ability to reduce the potential cost of natural disasters to communities and their citizens. What is Mitigation?  Mitigation is the effort to reduce loss by lessening the impact of disasters. Mitigation involves acting now, before a disaster occurs, to reduce consequences later. Effective mitigation requires that we all understand local risks, address the hard choices and invest in long-term community well-being. Without mitigation actions, we jeopardize our safety, financial security and self-reliance. Hazard Mitigation Assistance Programs FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs provide funding for eligible mitigation activities that reduce d...