Box of StormBags

StormBags will dry out after about two weeks in hot, dry conditions. If they are left exposed to water, they will stay at their full size indefinitely. They're ready to provide flood protection as long as they remain wet.

It depends on your situation. Use our Storm Protection Planner to get a personalized recommendation for your home or property.

StormBag uses a super-absorbent polymer that activates on contact with water. Place the 1 lb bag where needed, add water, and it expands to 33 lbs in 3 minutes — forming a solid flood barrier with no sand or shovels required.

The specs tell the story. StormBag creates a 6-inch barrier per layer; Quick Dam is rated at 3.5 inches stated (2–3 inches in practice). StormBag activates in 3 minutes; Quick Dam takes 5–10 minutes. StormBag holds FEMA and DHS approval for emergency flood mitigation; Quick Dam does not. For coastal flooding: StormBag must be activated with fresh water, but once fully hydrated, it effectively blocks salt water flooding including storm surge — an advantage for coastal homeowners where Quick Dam’s polymer does not activate properly. (Freshwater means any non-saltwater source — tap water, garden hose, rain, pool water, or standing floodwater. It does not need to be filtered or drinkable.)

StormBag is the tallest sandless sandbag available at 6 inches per layer when fully hydrated. Quick Dam reaches 3.5 inches stated height (typically 2–3 inches in practice). Traditional sandbags are typically 4–6 inches depending on fill level. For stacked flood barriers, StormBag’s 6-inch height per layer provides a meaningful structural advantage with fewer layers required to reach the same barrier height.

StormBag is the only sandless sandbag with both FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and DHS (Department of Homeland Security) approval for emergency flood mitigation. It has also been field-tested by National Guard units across the country. Quick Dam and FloodSax do not hold equivalent federal government approvals.

StormBag must be activated with fresh water — the super-absorbent polymer does not activate properly in salt water. However, once fully hydrated with a garden hose or other freshwater source, StormBag effectively repels and blocks salt water flooding, making it suitable for coastal storm surge and hurricane flood scenarios. Many competitors, including Quick Dam, use polymers that do not activate properly in salt water and do not claim effectiveness against salt water once activated — leaving coastal homeowners without adequate protection. Freshwater means any non-saltwater source — tap water, garden hose, rain, pool water, or standing floodwater. It does not need to be filtered or drinkable.

For a standard single doorway (3–4 feet wide), 4–6 StormBags create an effective barrier. For wider openings, see the Door Kit products or use the Storm Protection Planner to get a personalized recommendation for your specific opening size and flood risk.