Flooding & Erosion - Sandbags

Sandbags are often used by property owners to hold back floodwaters and prevent property and structural damage.

How to make your own Sandbags:

Gather the following supplies from a hardware or home improvement store:

Cloth or plastic sandbags, string or duct tape to tie it closed, sand, and a shovel.
Plan to work with another person. One person should hold the bag while the other one fills it.
Fill the sandbag one-quarter to one-half full with sand. It should weigh about 40 to 60 lbs.
Fold the empty part of the bag over. Then tie it with the string or tape it with the supplies you bought from your local improvement store.
Be sure that when you place the bag, the taped or tied side is facing down, so that no water will seep in. If one bag leaks, the whole pile will be ruined.

Place them in the direction of the water flow, and there should be no space in between bags complete one row before you begin the next.
Stagger the second row on top of the first (similar to the way that bricks are staggered in a wall). This system provides added protection.
Limit your stack to three layers of sandbags, since any more may not be sturdy.

If the bags are still in good condition, you should be able to reuse them the following year by refilling with new sand.

Some tips to remember when disposing of sand:

Use clean sand from sandbags to add to soil in your garden or flower beds, for snow and ice control, or as a base for paving blocks or sidewalks.
Never use the sand from sandbags to fill children's sandboxes or playgrounds, as it is not high-quality sand and the sandbags may have been contaminated.
Never dispose of sand in a wetland, flood plain, waterway or any other sensitive area.

Please contact stores directly for current pricing.

Olympia Supply & True value: Carries filled and empty sandbags. 625 Columbia Street SW, Olympia. Contact # 360.357.6659
West Olympia Ace Hardware: Carries filled and empty sandbags. 400 Cooper Point Road SW, Olympia. Contact # 360.236.0093
Home Depot: Carries filled and empty sandbags. 1101 Kingswood Drive SW, Olympia. Contact # 360.359.9044
Curtis Lumber Co: Carries filled sandbags only. 2326 4th Avenue E., Olympia. Contact # 360.357.7737
Lowes: Carries filled and empty sandbags. 4230 Martin Way East, Olympia. Contact # 360.486.0856
Hardel Builders Center: Carries filled and empty sandbags. 2321 Harrison Ave., Olympia. Contact # 360.357.6353