​Important for Sandbag Fillers:

• Fill bags only HALF WAY and TIE AT THE TOP 
  (this allows the bags to lock into each other when stacked)

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Building a Wall (click on image for a larger view) 

• Lay a starter row a few bags wide the length of the area you are looking to protect

• Ensure your starter row is far enough from your structure (see important considerations below)

• Lay poly on top of the starter row, extending toward the water. As you build, the poly will be locked between the first and second rows

• Add layers of sandbags to create the minimum height you need

• Stack sandbags flat into each other, allowing you to build up and out as water rises

• Once the wall reaches an appropriate height, pull the poly up and wrap it over the wall. This slows the rate of water flow significantly.

• Secure poly with a few bags (these can be removed and placed back as you build the wall up from the inside)

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Important Considerations for Wall Placement:

• Start your wall far enough away to allow for continued inward construction as water rises. Leave enough space between the wall and the structure for walking and installing pumps

• A properly built sandbag wall should be three times as wide as it is high to resist collapse. 

• You will need room in between your wall and the structure you are protecting to allow for you to walk and install pumps​

• You may need to add height to the wall ​as flooding increases

• Example Calculation: If you expect the water to rise 3 feet, start your wall 13 feet away from your structure. When the wall reaches 3 feet high, it will be 9 feet wide, leaving at least 4 feet of access space inside​

• If possible trench out sod 2 bags wide to create bonding trench, especially important for fast flowing water

• Getting a lower base set up well away from your structure allows you to continue to build up your wall while staying relatively dry.