Flooding and Ice Dams - The Flooding 411

Now that winter is here, it’s time to talk about the elephant in the room - ice dams. Snow and ice, while mixed with flooding, can cause major property damage, but Big Bags USA® is here to help. Our innovative flood barriers have been field-tested and they are proven to protect against ice dams as well as other floating debris. If you want to protect against the damage that ice dams can cause, here are a few things you need to know.


What Are Ice Dams?

An ice dam (also known as an "ice jam") is made up of pieces of floating ice that accumulates behind an obstruction of the water flow. This can include river bends, mouths of tributaries, and points where the river slope decreases, as well as dams and bridges. The accumulation of ice chunks can cause flooding upstream, and if the obstruction breaks suddenly, flash flooding can occur downstream. Here are some interesting details about the two main types of ice jams:

Freeze-Up Jams - this type of ice jam occurs when extremely cold air temperatures occur over open water, resulting in the rapid production of large amounts of river ice that can jam downstream. Freeze-up jams typically result in minimal to no flooding.

Break-Up Jams - this type of ice jam occurs when rapid thaw and/or runoff entering the river system breaks the existing ice cover, causing jamming downstream. Break-up jams typically cause the most damage and flooding. They can cause significant property damage and, according to the NOAA, have been known to push entire houses off their foundations and rip wooden decks from other homes.


Should You Be Concerned About Ice Jams?

Ice jams can occur anytime from early winter to late spring. The situation is dependent upon changes in temperature, which can lead to alternate freezing and melting of water surfaces. Freeze-up jams are more likely to occur in early winter, while break-up jams occur more often in early spring. While some areas are more prone to ice jam flooding than others, like those areas with cooler climates, they can occur anywhere there's a body of water, from a small stream to a large lake. The impact at any given location is dependent upon the local terrain, and construction and obstructions to the natural water flow.


Flood Barriers for Ice Jams

While flooding is our main concern with ice jams, erosion and dislocation of aquatic life can also result. If the river experiencing the ice jam is regularly used for transporting goods, transportation could be disrupted. Rivers that contribute to hydro-power can have their operations disrupted. While it may seem like an ice jam on a river isn't that big of a deal, major issues can result from it.

Luckily, you have a solution for the ice jam flooding problems! Big Bags USA® is a field-tested and proven to protect against ice jams and other floating debris. If you live in a river community, talk to your local officials and emergency management personnel about adding our innovative flood barriers to their flood mitigation plans. We're here to help protect your community and your property from the effects of winter flooding. Learn more by visiting our website or giving us a call at 1-800-337-0537.

MADE IN THE USA ~ 100% Manufactured in Missouri ~ BUY AMERICAN  

If you have an immediate need for our systems or have any questions for us, please call us toll-free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.


ALWAYS READY TO HELP LOCAL, STATE, & FEDERAL AGENCIES ... BE PREPARED!

Location: Camdenton, MO 65020, USA

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