The Army Corps of Engineers gives detailed instructions on how to best place sandbags, so they are most effective:
Remove any debris from the areas where bags are to be placed.
Place the bags lengthwise and parallel to the direction of flow. Fill the low spots first before placing bags the full length of the area to be raised.
Place the sandbags to redirect water, mud or debris, not dam it.
Do NOT place sandbags directly against the outer wall of a building. Wet bags can create added pressure on the foundation.
Fold the open end of the bag under the filled portion. Place succeeding bags with the bottom of the bag tightly and partially overlapping the previous bag.
Offset adjacent rows or layers by one-half bag length to avoid continuous joints.
To eliminate voids and form a tight seal, compact and shape each bag by walking on it and continue the process as each layer is placed. This flattens the top of the bag and prevents slippage between succeeding layers.
Sandbags can best be used to help protect doorways if a waterproof layer like heavy plastic or waterproof canvas is placed behind them. If possible, tape it to the door frame. Stack the sandbags in a pyramid formation, following the above instructions, and wrap the plastic up and over the top. The waterproof sheeting is always essential for protection of doorways.
The wash next to my house on Baseline was piled with a berm of sand pushed off the street (Im assuming by City maintenance Crews???). It's usually clear, but it wast when we checked in in prep for the storm. We are shoveling it out right now to give the water a clear path away from our house.
From Frank, the City Manager: Staff looked at it and it is a berm created by shouldering activities by public works. The berm is NOT intended to hold back water flow from North Star, it is merely a consequence of the shouldering. So, no issues.
In response to the City Manager's reply to the wash next to my house being blocked by "shouldering activity by Public Works"... the pile pushed off the road by public works was a good 3 ft high and completely blocked any runoff from taking its path down the obviously well worn wash between houses. There is literally no other path for the water to take on the north side of the street at the intersection of Northstar and Baseline rd. (except down my driveway and straight at my house). So, I don't think his reply made much sense if any?? We just spent hours digging it all out so the water has someplace to go again. I wish I could post pics to illustrate what public works did, that the City Manager thought was fine & dandy. Maybe it's the fact we live in a poor neighborhood and are of no consequence (as is also illustrated by the many derelict houses standing open to squatters all around us) But, I have MS and my husband has cancer and we just wiped ourselves out completely cleaning up public works Ill placed mess.
Helpful info on how to place sandbags via Todd PIesco and SB County:
Here's some guidance from https://sbcfire.org/sandbags/
Using Sandbags
The Army Corps of Engineers gives detailed instructions on how to best place sandbags, so they are most effective:
Remove any debris from the areas where bags are to be placed.
Place the bags lengthwise and parallel to the direction of flow. Fill the low spots first before placing bags the full length of the area to be raised.
Place the sandbags to redirect water, mud or debris, not dam it.
Do NOT place sandbags directly against the outer wall of a building. Wet bags can create added pressure on the foundation.
Fold the open end of the bag under the filled portion. Place succeeding bags with the bottom of the bag tightly and partially overlapping the previous bag.
Offset adjacent rows or layers by one-half bag length to avoid continuous joints.
To eliminate voids and form a tight seal, compact and shape each bag by walking on it and continue the process as each layer is placed. This flattens the top of the bag and prevents slippage between succeeding layers.
Sandbags can best be used to help protect doorways if a waterproof layer like heavy plastic or waterproof canvas is placed behind them. If possible, tape it to the door frame. Stack the sandbags in a pyramid formation, following the above instructions, and wrap the plastic up and over the top. The waterproof sheeting is always essential for protection of doorways.
Emergency food if the power goes out. H/T Julie Dole, Wonder Valley
Nonperishables:
Hard-boiled eggs.
Ramen — just add hot water.
Seedy crispbreads —
Crackers of all kinds.
Bean dips: Hummus, Black bean dip, White bean dip etc.
Salsa.
Saurkraut or Kimchi. Eaten straight from the jar. bottled pesto, artichokes, and mushrooms
Chocolate.
Potato Chips and Tortilla Chips —
Pre-seasoned tofu, tempeh bacon, veggie burgers, yogurt — less likely to spoil than fresh meat.
Grassfed beef jerky, turkey jerky, bison jerky, salmon jerky.
Dried fruit.
Nuts and seeds.
Nut butters.
Snap pea crisps.
Avocado —
Canned fish —
Vegetable pickles — cucumber, carrot, beet etc.
Prepared falafels
Fresh blueberries — one of the only fresh fruits that lasts!
Olives.
Canned dolmas.
Canned seasoned beans.
Packets of pre-made shelf-stable curries
I knew a New Orleans-based NPS ranger who lived on canned Cajun stewed tomatoes for a week after Katrina....
The wash next to my house on Baseline was piled with a berm of sand pushed off the street (Im assuming by City maintenance Crews???). It's usually clear, but it wast when we checked in in prep for the storm. We are shoveling it out right now to give the water a clear path away from our house.
From Frank, the City Manager: Staff looked at it and it is a berm created by shouldering activities by public works. The berm is NOT intended to hold back water flow from North Star, it is merely a consequence of the shouldering. So, no issues.
It's actually blocking a wash/runoff path that crosses a field just east of Northstar.
Also the Fire station has bags again!!!
In response to the City Manager's reply to the wash next to my house being blocked by "shouldering activity by Public Works"... the pile pushed off the road by public works was a good 3 ft high and completely blocked any runoff from taking its path down the obviously well worn wash between houses. There is literally no other path for the water to take on the north side of the street at the intersection of Northstar and Baseline rd. (except down my driveway and straight at my house). So, I don't think his reply made much sense if any?? We just spent hours digging it all out so the water has someplace to go again. I wish I could post pics to illustrate what public works did, that the City Manager thought was fine & dandy. Maybe it's the fact we live in a poor neighborhood and are of no consequence (as is also illustrated by the many derelict houses standing open to squatters all around us) But, I have MS and my husband has cancer and we just wiped ourselves out completely cleaning up public works Ill placed mess.