HAMBURG DPW
GRINDER PUMP EMERGENCY SERVICE
NUMBER: (810) 217-6085
Available 24/7/365
Call This Number IMMEDIATELY if
Your Sewer Grinder Pump Gets Submerged!
_________________________________________
Sandbagging –
It is more than fill 'em up, stack 'em, and
build a wall!
The use of sandbags is a simple, but effective way to prevent or reduce flood
water damage. Properly filled and placed sandbags can act as a barrier to
divert moving water around instead of through buildings. Sandbag
construction does not, however, guarantee a water tight seal.
The most commonly used bags are untreated burlap sacks available at feed
or hardware stores. Empty bags can be stockpiled for several years if
properly stored. Filled bags of earth material will deteriorate quickly.
face as far away from the action of the shovel as practical. The use of safety
goggles and gloves is desirable and sometimes necessary.
Moving Sandbags
Sandbags get very heavy very quickly. Using a buddy-system to lift bags
can help avoid injuries. Place the bags in a wheel-barrow, trailer or vehicle
trunk or bed to aid in moving sandbags closer to the placement location. A
lawn mower tractor or 4-wheeler vehicle with a trailer could also be used.
Placing Sandbags
� Remove any debris from the area where bags are to be placed.
� Place the half-filled bags lengthwise and parallel to the direction of water
flow.
� If tied bags are used, flatten them and flare the tied end. If untied bags are
used, fold the open end to form a triangle.
� Place succeeding bags on the folded or flared portion of the previous bag
and stamp into place to eliminate gaps and to form a tight seal.
� Stagger the joint connections when multiple layers are necessary.
INCORRECT WAY
A heavy bodied or sandy soil is most desirable for filling sandbags, but any
usable material at or near the site has definite advantages. Fine sand could
leak out through the weave in the bag. To prevent this, double bag the
material. Gravelly or rocky soils are generally poor choices because of their
permeability characteristic. Sandbag barriers can easily be constructed by
two people, as most individuals have the
physical capabilities to carry or drag a sandbag weighing around 30 pounds.
CORRECT WAY
Filling Sandbags
HOW FULL TO FILL THE BAG?
Filling Sandbags is a two-person operation.
One member of the team places the empty bag between or slightly in front of
widespread feet with arms extended. The throat of the bag is folded to form a
collar and held with the hands in position. The other team member carefully
empties a rounded shovel full of material into the open end. The person
holding the sack should be standing with knees slightly flexed and head and
Bag a is correctly filled because it is 1/2 to 2/3 full, tied or folded high, and
would weight about 35 to 40 lbs.. When stacked, it will lie flat and "mold" into
place, making a more leak-proof barrier.
Bag b is incorrectly filled because it is filled too full, would not lay flat or
"mold into place, and is too heavy to easily handle.
Bag c is also incorrectly filled even though it is filled from 1/2 to 2/3 full, it
is tied or folded too low and would not lie flat or "mold" into place.
10405 Merrill Road, P.O. Box 157
Hamburg, MI 48139-0157
Phone: 810-231-1000 – Fax: 810-231-4295
On the Web: www.hamburg.mi.us
HURON RIVER FLOOD WARNING AND UPDATES
Monday, September 15, 2008, 12:00 noon
Dear Hamburg Township Resident:
Due to the heavy rains this weekend, the National Weather Service
has issued a Flood Warning for the Huron River in Hamburg
Township.
Current Flooding Situation: We have seen an increase of 1 foot of
water since Friday afternoon, Sept. 12th. As of 8:15 a.m. this morning
(Monday, Sept. 15th), the River was at 6.57 feet and is currently
projected to crest on Thursday afternoon, at approximately 7.4 feet.
Currently, NWS is predicting that this level is will hold into the
weekend, and begin receding slowly thereafter. Official flood stage of
the river is 6.5 feet. In addition, the stream flow of the river is
increasing.
By going to the Hamburg Township homepage at
www.hamburg.mi.us, you can follow the latest releases by the NWS
on river levels, flows, and cresting predictions. Updates from the
Township will also be posted on the website.
Hamburg Township has met with local County officials and Township
emergency services personnel to coordinate its response to this
flooding situation and is constant contact with emergency personnel
during this event.
move them to their homes. On the reverse side of this sheet are
instructions to help you with correct sandbagging procedures and
safety hints. Each property owner is responsible to arrange
for his/her own labor to sandbag their property. Township
and County personnel will not be sandbagging private homes.
The Sandbagging Machine: There are several areas in Livingston
County experiencing high flood waters at this time in addition to
Hamburg Township. Some of you may be aware that in the past, the
Livingston County Drain Commission’s sandbag machine has been
used in Hamburg Township to help fill bags. The sandbag machine
is going to be cycling through the several flooding locations in
the County. It will be used to fill a large number of bags in one
location to help with developing a supply of filled bags, and then
moved to one of the other locations for a period of hours, and then
cycle back through to Hamburg locations. At the present time, this is
the only sandbag machine available in the entire State of Michigan, so
Hamburg must share the sandbagging machine with the other
Livingston County areas.
Hazardous Chemical Safety: It is very important that residents
check to see that all hazardous chemicals (gasoline containers,
pesticides, paint, paint thinners, cleaning chemicals, etc.) are
removed from the floors and lower level areas of garages, storage
buildings and homes and placed onto tables or upper shelving levels
to keep waters from becoming contaminated. Flood waters can tip
over such chemicals and cause contaminations.
If you have further questions or concerns, please contact the
Township Hall at 810-231-1000 Ext. 212 (Brenda Richardson,
Information Specialist) or Ext. 209 (Laura Gibson, my Administrative
Assistant). And as always, call 9-1-1 if an emergency arises.
Sincerely,
Township Priorities: Keeping roads open is the Township’s first
priority. The second is keeping flood waters out of grinder pumps.
If your grinder pump becomes submerged or is in danger of
imminent submersion, please call the DPW Grinder Pump Sewer
Emergency Number at 810-217-6085.
We are moving sand into several locations in your area, as well
as sandbags. Residents are free to mobilize to fill the bags and
Cindy Pine
Hamburg Township Supervisor