How to Fill Sand Bags

Fill sand bags to protect property from flooding.

When floodwaters threaten, sandbags are the common defense. Although sandbags are simple and basic, they can be effective for keeping floodwaters back and preserving property from flood damage. If you must use sandbags, ensure that you fill them properly. This will allow you to pile the sandbags on top of each other to create a barrier between floodwaters and property. Use burlap sacks or special plastic bags to hold the sand.

Things You'll Need

• Work gloves
• Eye goggles
• Assistant
• Burlap or plastic sandbags (3 feet deep and 1.5 feet wide)
• Coarse sand or sandy soil
• Shovel

Instructions

1. Wear work gloves and eye goggles to protect yourself from the materials as you fill the sandbags.

2. Decide which person will hold the sandbags and which person will fill the sandbags. The person holding the sandbags must fold the top edge of the sandbags over several inches to create a collar to hold the bag. This person must hold the sandbag at arm's length in from of him with his knees bent slightly.

3. Fill a shovel with sand so the shovel is rounded. Pour the shovelful of sand into the sandbag while the sandbag holder holds the bag securely. Keep careful control of the shovel so you do not spill the sand or hit the sandbag holder with the shovel.

4. Continue to fill the sandbag until it is at least one-third full and not more than one-half full of sand. Filling sandbags more than this will make sandbags that are too heavy to lift and move easily.

5. Lay the sandbag down so it is flat and fold the open end of the bag into a triangle point by folding down both upper corners of the bag. Fold the point down and tuck it beneath the bag.

Tips & Warnings

• Double bag the sandbags if you are using burlap sacks. If you are using plastic sandbags, double bagging is not necessary.

• Using untied sandbags is the most common practice because generally a work crew will fill sandbags at the site they are needed and the crew will stack the folded bags to form the barrier. Tied sandbags are useful in situations where pre-filled sandbags are required.

• If you tie the sandbags, tie the bags near the top with twine, tying them in a double knot. Do not tie the bags too high or too low, but rather tie them approximately 6 inches from the top edge.

References

• US Army Corps of Engineers: Sandbags