Florida Company Claims Simple Device Makes Sandbag Filling Faster Before Floods

The Florida-based company that produces a quicker way to bag leaves is now offering a tool that it says makes filling sandbags three times faster, potentially saving property owners time before floodwaters rise.

The Sandbag It! is a flat but flexible plastic board that fits inside a sandbag, allowing one person to scoop and fill a bag without need of a shovel, Innovare International Inc. said in a news release this week. Typically, two or three people are needed to fill sandbags – one to scoop with a shovel, one to hold the bag open and one to carry or stack the bag.

The company, which produces a larger device for filling lawn leaf bags, claims the sandbagger board can increase by 300% the number of bags that can be put in place during an emergency. The price of two is about the same as a shovel, the Kissimmee-based company said.

It’s possible that faster sandbag placement could help reduce water damage in flood-vulnerable homes and businesses. Typically, flood damage is a major source of claims disputes after a hurricane or other weather event. Property owners who don’t have flood insurance often argue that the damage was wind-related, which can result in litigation.

Starting in January, many homeowners covered by Florida’s state-created insurer, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., will be required by law to obtain separate flood policies in addition to the Citizens’ wind coverage.