FloodSax® sandless sandbags keep McDonald’s watertight

Every year, when the snow melts we have the same problem.  South Dakota is no stranger to snow. We know how to deal with snow, but the snow melt was causing us problems every year – and that means lost time and money.

We operate multiple McDonald’s restaurants here with a Watertown business office located next to an empty lot where snow is piled high all winter to keep the nearby parking areas clear.

Each spring, as the snow melts, the water crosses the sidewalk to the side entrance of our business office and enters under the wall. We’ve tried traditional sandbags in the past, but they were hard to work with, hard to remove and still let water seep through.

As soon as we heard about FloodSax® we were excited to give it a try! It was already winter when we deployed our bags, so we added a little water to them to ensure that they would stay where we put them.

We laid a course at the snow lot edge of our sidewalk, putting down a layer two bags tall.As the snow melted, the bags automatically expanded to form an 8ins tall watertight barrier. The sidewalk stayed dry and there was no water entry into our office. When we looked at the FloodSax® barrier, you could see that it was holding back several inches of water.

This is an excellent product that has provided a solid, cost effective solution for us.

I would highly recommend the FloodSax® line of products.

Mike H, Watertown, South Dakota

Thanks to the Yorkshire Post (England) for recognizing the value that FloodSax® sandless sandbags have provided to Americans hit by Sandy.

See the original article:

Demand flooding in for Yorkshireman’s
 sandless sandbags

WHEN Superstorm Sandy hit the US last year, dozens of people relied on sandless sandbags from Yorkshire to protect their homes from flooding.

 The self-inflating FloodSax® are set to secure more orders in the US after impressing two US 
Olympic sailors who have a flair for business.

Revolutionary one-pound biodegradable sandless sandbag can be stored easily and deployed
by virtually anyone to form an effective barrier to floodwaters

Watertown, SD (PRWEB) July 19, 2011

Floodsax Americas, LLC today introduced the revolutionary Floodsax® self-activating sandless sandbag flood defense system for homeowners, business owners and governmental agencies in the United States. Floodsax uses a proprietary biodegradable polymer that absorbs water to form a sandless sandbag. Delivered as a flat one-pound sack, they absorb up to 45 pounds of fresh water in five minutes, forming a dense gel that blocks and redirects water, while forming to each other or adjacent structures for a tighter fit than traditional sandbags. Because they are stored dry, they are cleaner, lighter, more effective and easier to use in the places and times when sandbags are most needed.

Floods are the number one most common natural disaster in the United States, causing over 700 million dollars in damage in 2010 and most homeowners’ insurance does not cover flood damage, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA encourages home and business owner to prepare for floods in part by safeguarding your possessions and property.

“FloodSax are lightweight, compact, clean, and superior-engineered alternative to the mess and limitations of sandbagging,” said Angelo Polsinelli, Vice-President and General Manager of Floodsax Americas. “Once activated, FloodSax can be placed to mitigate and redirect floodwater. FloodSax are 100% biodegradable, but keep water at bay for three months, and have a guaranteed shelf life of five years when sealed in original vacuum pack.”

Compared with traditional sandbags, Floodsax feature several advantages:

• Sandbag storage: Floodsax eliminate the need for storing and delivery of bags and loose sand. Floodsax can be stored cleanly in a garage or warehouse using only 20% of the space of traditional sandbags.
• Sandbag weight: Floodsax weigh only one pound when dry, allowing virtually anyone to store, handle and place the bags as needed.
• Sandbag placement: Floodsax expand and form to each other, doorways, walls or other objects forming a tighter seal than traditional sandbags.

Available in Europe and Australia since 2007, Environmental Defence Systems Limited recently licensed to Floodsax Americas as the exclusive distributor for North and South America. Floodsax Americas is currently searching for distributors throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America.

About Floodsax Americas
Floodsax Americas, LLC is the exclusive distributor of the Floodsax Flood Defense System in North and South America and the Caribbean. Floodsax is the sandless sandbag that is revolutionizing the way homeowners, businesses and governmental agencies prevent and reduce damage from floodwaters. At only one pound, Floodsax avoid the storage, transport and placement problems of traditional sandbags, keep water at bay for 3 months, and are 100% biodegradable.

About Environmental Defence Systems Limited
Environmental Defence Systems Limited (EDS Ltd.), a leading developer and manufacturer of flood defense systems is based in the United Kingdom. Its award-winning products have protected homes, businesses and strategic assets throughout the world. EDS Ltd won the National Gold Winner 2007 for Products in the Green Apple Environment Awards for its Floodsax sandless sandbag, placing it among the best examples of environmental best practice and sustainable development as demonstrated by Local Authorities, Commercial & Industry and Communities – both in the UK and around the world.