Waterfront businesses in South Florida are turning to emergency dams filled with water to protect property from flooding and storm surge. U.S. Flood Controls Cheryl Witmer explains efficiency of Tiger Dams over sand bags to local business as 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially began Wednesday with researchers predicting an “above-normal” year.
Soldiers with the 1021st Engineer Company, 205th Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade, deploy Tiger Dams during the annual Disaster Response Exercise in Manchac, Louisiana, April 8, 2022. Tiger Dams are used for temporary flood mitigation during any disaster response to assist in the protection of our citizens in times of need. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Toby M. Valadie)
By Staff Sgt. Josiah Pugh, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office
NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard held their annual statewide Disaster Response Exercise (DRX) April 6-9. The LANG partnered with state and local agencies to test and strengthen a combined response between the groups in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season.
The commander of the 225th Engineer Brigade, Col. Greg St. Romain, said exercises like this one are an important way for the heads of different agencies to prepare for disasters.
“We must continue to have key leader engagements. These types of exercises reinforce that need. When a disaster does arise, it’s not a stranger walking into their building to talk about what the Guard is capable of doing for them.”
The exercise, organized by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, involved training missions that took place at Fort Polk, Delcambre, Manchac, Plaquemines Parish and a staging area in Roseland.
Vicki Travis, deputy director of Tangipahoa Emergency Preparedness, said it’s critical to work out all the details before a storm hits.
“It’s so valuable, because they say you train as you fight, and I truly believe when you meet and network ahead of a disaster it makes it easier to execute safely and efficiently.”
LANG Soldiers, along with active-duty Soldiers with the 46th Engineer Battalion out of Fort Polk in Leesville, conducted ground search and rescue operations using high-water vehicles. Rescued role players were taken to a lily pad, which is a consolidation point for rescued personnel.
“The joint training provides our Soldiers a chance to see the part they play in a full-scale operation,” said Staff Sgt. Victor Turner, the readiness noncommissioned officer with 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
LANG Airmen with the 159th Fighter Wing conducted simulated boat rescues with the Cajun Navy in Belle Chasse, Louisiana.
“We’ve been tasked by the state to provide high water search and rescue,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Brian Krail, an incident search and rescue boat team leader. “The Guard has provided us with these assets. Tthese boats are very good at that job.”
LANG Soldiers with the 1021st Engineer Company, 205th Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade, deployed Tiger Dams in Manchac, Louisiana. Tiger Dams are used for temporary flood mitigation during any disaster response to assist in the protection of citizens in times of need.
Spc. Courtney Braswell from Albany, Louisiana with the 843rd Engineer Company, 205th Engineer Battalion, said this was her first time training on the Tiger Dam system.
“It’s been great. Yesterday we came out, we watched them do it and got a feel for it. Today, it was more hands on. We were taught what to do and everyone took turns getting to do it themselves.”
In Roseland, the exercise focused on the logistics of distributing commodities, such as water and packaged meals, to points of distribution throughout the state.
The Tiger Dam™ System is currently deployed across Highway 1 at Cole Road in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is building a “Tiger Dam” across Highway 1 on Sunday evening (Nov. 28) to try to keep floodwaters in the Sumas River.
The Abbotsford Police Department (APD) posted on social media at about 6 p.m. Sunday that Highway 1 between Abbotsford and Chilliwack is closed to all traffic, including emergency, essential and construction vehicles.
Article Courtesy of: The Abbotsford News
There are many causes of flooding. Rain fall of a prolonged duration, high winds over water, dam failure, the breakdown of retention ponds and levees, and high snow melt. Flooding can also be forwarded by natural causes like wildfires that can reduce or even devastate vegetation such as low shrubs and indigenous grasses that would normally absorb rainfall.
Because of any of these conditions floods may occur on streams and rivers overflowing their banks into areas known as flood plains.
Even without rainfall the shorelines of lakes and bays can flood due to high winds that blow water into low shorelines.
All coastal areas are vulnerable to high tides and are even more susceptible to high wind, hurricane and storm surges.
Any of these scenarios can affect your home or commercial properties.
Tiger Dam™ and U.S. Flood Control have a number of solutions to flood protection and containment for you your home, businesses and community properties.
Tiger Dam™ Uses:
Commercial or Personal Property
Road Ways
River Crossings
See Mores Solutions: https://bit.ly/2NBeHMF
For a solution to your flooding get in touch.
For Immediate Response Call: (504) 813-7303 or email david@usfloodcontrol.com
Cheryl Whitmer, of U.S. Flood Control, had workers install temporary water-filled barriers in two low-lying neighborhoods: Twin Lakes and Stillwright Point.
“The Tiger Dam System is comprised of 50-foot sections of flood barrier that interlock together to create a seamless flood protection dam,” Whitmer said about the reusable dam workers placed along South Blackwater Lane.
Read More: https://bit.ly/3518JcP
Article courtesy of local10.com/news/ Hatzel Vela
KEY LARGO, FL – Monroe County is testing a temporary flood control barrier in the Twin Lakes community in Key Largo to help alleviate recent king tide road flooding. As one of the County’s pilot road elevation projects not yet constructed, this interim measure will provide relief to residents from the current tidal flooding.
On Friday, Oct. 2, temporary 24-inch high water-filled flood control barriers were installed by County staff and the vendor, U.S. Flood Control. The barrier provides a dam between the road and the tidal waters of Florida Bay. The barrier did contain the rainwater that fell last weekend on the road, but Monroe County Roads Department staff pumped the freshwater off the road once it stopped raining.
“This isn’t a permanent fix, but as of today, the barrier has been successful in holding back the high king tides from entering the road in all but one low-lying area where seawater was seen bubbling up through the ground near the road,” said Monroe County Engineering Services Director Judy Clarke. “We are in the process of securing additional barriers for neighboring Stillwright Point, and we hope to have them installed as soon as possible.”
After reviewing the Stillwright Point area, the barriers will provide a temporary solution to tidal flooding at the entrance of that community.
The barriers can be used during king tide season, which typically runs September through November and again in the spring, and then removed once the king tides or extreme high tides no longer cause roadway flooding. Once removed, they can be stored and refilled and reused the next season or in other areas.
In order of occurrence:
Monroe County
The Florida Keys
Kristen Livengood, Public Information Officer
305-680-8226, Livengood-Kristen@monroecounty-fl.gov
U.S. Flood Control Barrier
MBTA workers installed “Tiger Dams,” a flood prevention system Tuesday at the Long Wharf Entrance to the Aquarium MBTA station.
Read More: https://bit.ly/3fxpAar
Article Courtesy of NOWCAST News Center
