NSW SES issues evacuation orders for resident in Nambucca region

ABC NEWS (Australia)

As cyclone Alfred edges closer like in many other towns the people of Nambucca are filling sandbags to protect their properties.

Transcript

00:00So you might have been hearing and seeing a lot about sandbags recently, and yourself,

00:07you might have even filled a few to put in front of your home or business.

00:11But what you might not know is how to pack them properly and install them.

00:15So we're here at the SES headquarters to show you exactly how you should place them down

00:21and what to do.

00:22And joining me is Jason Jones, who's the unit commander here at the Nambuka headquarters.

00:28Jason, tell me, you're going to show us how we do this, right?

00:32Exactly.

00:33Yeah.

00:34So what do we do?

00:35So with the sandbags, they will come either two thirds full or half full, depending on

00:41how they've been set up in the hopper.

00:43Most of the time, instead of tying them up, we will just fold them over because it's just

00:48as quick to do it.

00:50So the bag will come like that, fold it over.

00:54You'll see on one side, there is a seam.

00:58Where you want to put that seam is up against what you're trying to protect.

01:01So I can demonstrate that on this door here.

01:05So we've got the seam on the side there.

01:07You'd put this on the outside of what you're trying to protect.

01:10So you put the first one down, part up against the door, push it down.

01:16The second bag that you will place will be partially overlapped the first bag.

01:22So again, with the seams in, partially over top of the first bag, like so.

01:30I find it actually easier to push them down with your feet, because you make them then

01:35level with the next bag.

01:37You just continue this process along the length of your door.

01:41So for a standard house door, it's usually three to four bags.

01:46Garage doors, depending on the door itself, can be bigger.

01:51So that is how you would do your first level.

01:53If you need to go higher, it's the same process again.

01:58And so, if people are filling their own bags, how much sand should they be putting in the

02:03bag?

02:04Should they be filling it to the brim, or should they be at least half?

02:07About half to two thirds.

02:09If you go more than three quarters of a bag, they're extremely heavy, hard to manoeuvre,

02:19you end up with a lot more sand than you actually need.

02:21For laying them down like this, it's actually better to have probably a two thirds bag.

02:26They're a lot easier to move, they're a lot easier to squash down.

02:30Okay, so the three key takeaways for people to keep in mind, what would they be?

02:35Number one?

02:36Number one is to two thirds fill the bag.

02:39Number two?

02:40Number two would be to place the seams hard up against what you're trying to protect.

02:44And number three?

02:45And number three, as you lay them down, lay them down as flat as possible.

02:49Do probably about a 10 centimetre overlay on each one, and the easiest way to do it

02:54is once you put the second one on top, is to stand on it.

02:57That's great.

02:58Because it doesn't matter how heavy you are, you only need enough weight just to push it

03:02down so it's flat with the one that you've just covered.

03:05And there's no gaps.

03:06Well, you heard it here first, that's how you lay down a sandbag, and that's how you

03:10pack a sandbag.

03:11Stay safe.

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