Sandbagging Information

Property owners are responsible for taking steps and having the necessary equipment to protect their properties from flooding. During times when there is a risk for potential flooding, sand and sandbags will be made available in key locations throughout the area for property owners to access. To report a flooding incident involving immediate danger to life, please call 911. Report all other flooding incidents to the Provincial Emergency Reporting Line at 800-663-3456.

Sandbagging Tips

Sandbagging is one of the most versatile flood fighting tools and is a simple, effective way to prevent or reduce flood water damage, when done correctly. If your property is prone to flooding, please take the necessary measures to protect structures, equipment and materials before flooding is imminent. Owners are responsible for all measures required for flood protection of private property. There are numerous suppliers within the Shuswap area that provide sand and sandbags.

• Construct the sandbag dike on high ground, as close as possible to your home or building. By being closer to your home or building, few bags will be needed, and the sandbag dike will be less exposed to the stream.
• Sandbagging should also focus along existing flood works or any low spots along dikes for maximum protection.
• Dig a trench one bag in depth and two bags wide as a foundation for the dike structure.
• To be effective, a dike must be three times as wide at its base as it is high.
• Sandbags should be turned right-side out and filled half-full. They need not to be tied shut just laid overlapping each other.
• The open ends of the sandbags with bottom layer, i.e. bottom layer lengthwise with dike, next layer crosswise
• As individual bags are put in place, walk on bags to tamp them into place to ensure maximum strength. Take care to avoid puncturing the bags.
• The butt ends of the bags should be placed facing the stream, for rows that are perpendicular to the stream
• Each successive layer should be set back one-half sandbag width on both sides in each additional layer so a completed dike has a triangular cross section.
• The number of sandbags needed to protect a home or building varies depending on the local topography and the anticipated depth of water.