Big Bags USA

Whether you're dealing with flooding in a dangerous area or an area with terrain issues, Big Bags USA® offers a solution for deploying protection practically anywhere. Our Transforming Spreader Bar is an innovative solution for areas that prevent a standard deployment of our large polypropylene sandbag systems. Keep reading to learn more about this piece of equipment and how it works! The Transforming Spreader Bar  The Transforming Spreader Bar was designed with versatility, simplicity and speed in mind. It quickly converts from a single axle pull behind trailer to a Big Bags USA® flood barrier lifting system. The device is capable of lifting three, four or five Big Bags USA® sandbags at one time. Our Transforming Spreader Bars are manufactured in the United States, and are made of high strength, reinforced steel. The best part is that it's easy to use! Support bars for fork lift and pay loader lifting are incorporated into the design for spot positioning and managemen...

We've all heard of tropical storms and hurricanes, but do we actually understand what these weather phenomenons are? What's the difference between a tropical storm and a hurricane? Keep reading to find out the answers to these questions and more! Hurricanes and tropical storms are both very large storms. While they are both tropical in nature and include high winds, the difference lies in the wind speed. Both hurricanes and tropical storms start as tropical depressions. These form as a low pressure area over the ocean and have the potential to get larger and stronger. When they do, they become tropical storms. Tropical Storms Tropical storms are extremely low pressure areas over the ocean with a cyclonic rotation of winds. They are given their name due to the fact that they generally develop in the tropics. In order for a tropical depression to become a tropical storm, wind speeds have to reach 39 mph. At this point, the storm is given a name by the National Hurricane...

Recent studies from Environmental Research Letters show that severe flooding in the United States is on course to become worse. Now is the time that communities and cities need to evaluate their infrastructure and see where improvements can be made to reduce the effects of major flooding. Not only can Big Bags USA® flood barriers by used as temporary flood protection , but they can also be used as construction barriers. Keep reading to learn about how Big Bags USA® can be used to help communities better their infrastructure to reduce flood damage: Improving Infrastructure  In coastal areas, communities near lakes and rivers and other flood prone areas, dams and levees can be used to prevent or at least lessen the effects of major flooding events. Flood control dams impound floodwaters and then either release them under control to the river below the dam or store/divert the water for other uses. For centuries, People have built dams to help control devastating floods...

Today's blog focuses on the most damaging catastrophes in U.S. history based on insurance losses. To no surprise, major hurricanes dominate the list. The good news is that we can start preparing now for hurricanes and flooding to help reduce the number of damages caused by these types of events in the future. Keep reading to learn more! Costliest Catastrophes in U.S. History According to the Insurance Information Institute, the following list of catastrophes features the most costly in U.S. history. Their data, however, does not account for those flood damages covered by the federally administered National Flood Insurance Program. Therefore, the damages are actually much higher. Some flood damage information from the National Flood Insurance Program is provided below as well. 1. Hurricane Katrina In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused $41,100 million in estimated insured property losses, not including flood insurance losses. According to the National Flood Insuranc...

June 1st marks the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season! As we discussed in last week's blog , the NOAA predicts an above-average Atlantic storm season this year, both in numbers and in strength of storms. Today's blog focuses on one of the factors behind this forecast: El Niño! Keep reading to learn what El Niño is exactly and how it plays a role in this year's hurricane season. What is El Niño? El Niño is a cyclical weather phenomenon that occurs every few years. It is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. This oscillation of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific has a global impact on weather patterns. For example, areas across the southern tier of the US often see increased rainfall, which leads to destructive flooding. The cycle begins when warm water in the western tropical Pacific Ocean shifts eastward along the equator toward the coast of South America. Forecasters declare an official El Niño wh...