DisastersPortable military barriers help Canadian city in flood fight

Published 7 April 2011

Canada is using a new technology to prevent flood damage in Manitoba; the one-meter-square wire cages can be unfolded and quickly filled with dirt or mud; they can also be linked for a long row that can be set up far quicker than it takes to sling sandbags; the barriers have been used by the U.S. military to protect embassies from terrorist attacks, and have also been used for flood protection in the United States

A new technology is being used for the first time in Manitoba’s flood fight. Crews put up a Hesco Bastion along River Road in the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews, just north of Winnipeg, on Wednesday.

The one-meter-square wire cages can be unfolded and quickly filled with dirt or mud. They can also be linked for a long row that can be set up far quicker than it takes to sling sandbags.

CBCNews reports that the dike along River Road, more than 300 meters long, will provide protection to several homes and can be built in a day.

And these are apparently going to be better than any of the other flood protections that they’ve used here in the past,” said CBC News reporter Julie Bell, who watched the barriers go up.

The Hesco barriers have been used by the U.S. military to protect embassies from terrorist attacks. They have also been used for flood protection in the United States.

They have also been used by non-government organizations and aid agencies to create temporary shelters.