Inflatable dams for flood control

Recent flooding, and the ensuing damage, brings flood mitigation and disaster relief to the forefront of our collective experience. Friends, neighbors and city officials have pooled resources to assist those in need following the 2020 flood, whilst looking back at the flood of 1996.

Moving forward, are there standards and practices that could be put in place to help mitigate future flooding? Deano Perlatti, salesperson for both Tarp Innovators LLC, and U.S. Flood Control, has some ideas.

The Emergency Broadcast System woke Perlatti, who had fallen asleep watching television, on Friday morning, Feb. 7, with Touchet Valley flood warnings. "When I saw Mill Creek I could not believe my eyes," said Perlatti.

His work with Tarp Innovators LLC and, more recently, U.S. Flood control, makers of the Tiger Dam system, has provided countless experiences with emergency management.

Tarp Innovators, LLC is a manufacturing company with roots in the industrial fabric industry dating back to the 1970s with the goal of making quality products that protect the environment, aid humanitarian efforts and demonstrate the versatility of fabric.

Their bladders have the capacity to hold water or fuel, can be used alone or in concert with other systems, and are safer than hard storage containers that can cause even more damage if swept away. They provide relief up to 30".

That expertise has led to the realization that sand bags aren't ideal. They are pricey, they degrade over time and are sometimes not reusable.

He suggests that taking advantage of a system like the Tarp Innovators bladder or a Tiger Dam is "a better fit and better from a timeframe standpoint.

You roll out the tube, and pump the [flood] water in it," Perlatti continues, "In five to ten minutes you've done what 500 sandbags can do." When water flow is back to a manageable rate, the captured water can be rereleased into the rivers. Then, the system can be cleaned, rolled up and stored until the next flood.

Since flood waters carry all sorts of disease-causing agents, a bacterial cleanser and/or power washing is recommended to refresh the system before storage.

Depending on the size of the area protected, the systems have a relatively small footprint. "As an example, an 18" x 50' section stores in a 12" x 30" space. I know some clients have dedicated storage tubs and store their systems in those," says Perlatti.

Tiger Dams are made by U.S. Flood Control. The system is patented to connect together, creating an impervious barrier for miles in any shape (including circles and 90 degree turns) and is the only system that is stackable, from 19 inches to 32 feet in height. Filled in as little as 90 seconds, Tiger Dams use the flood to protect against the flood.

When deployed properly the system can prevent up to 100 percent of damage.

Tiger Dams appear to be very effective. Their website's photo gallery shows the system in action protecting a WalMart store from flood waters in North Carolina.

Perlatti says that particular installation, a 36 inch baffle, took only three crew members to assemble. "That's the beauty of it: It installs with less and does more."

Because Perlatti works with both companies and also has access to the manufacturers of the raw materials, he is best equipped to diagnose flood problems and find the best solution to suit individual needs.

Prices depend on many variables. Staking off a residential home for an individual, versus banking off a river for a community, will have different price tags, but both could be worth the expense. Sand and bags have varying costs and often rely heavily on spontaneous volunteers to both fill and transport bags to impacted areas.

Perlatti plans to have more details available at the next Waitsburg City Council meeting for interested parties.