To paraphrase Mark Twain, everybody talks about flood control but nobody does anything about it.

Or at least, nobody did, until an innovative U.S. company designed, patented and commercialized a uniquely portable flood-control and protection system that renders such traditional solutions as the stacking of sandbags utterly obsolete.

As the stricken residents, farmers and business operators in flood-stricken Chilliwack, B.C., recently learned to their dismay, nothing is more devastating than the damage inflicted by torrential rains and overflowing riverbanks.

But devastation can be avoided by means of the revolutionary system currently being marketed and distributed by Canada Flood Control Ltd. of Calgary.

Inflatable dams, berms and levees will protect all kinds of property and are easy to use and remove.

CFC's system of inflatable dams, berms and levees can be rapidly deployed to protect your home, community centre, field crop, golf course or place of business from flash flooding as the result of spring rains or runoff. Uniquely affordable, indisputably effective, these chains of interlocking bags work like a charm.

"In an emergency situation, water tends to rises too quickly for teams of workers to get their sandbags diked and in place in time," explains Martin Bunting, co-founder of Canada Flood Control.

"You've got to stack three or four levels of bags before you get any protection at all. With our system, two men can deploy 18 inches of protection within a time span of 30 minutes and still have a chance to go higher."

Users of the system have two options. They can actually use rising flood waters to fill these tough, resilient plastic bags, each of which stands 18 inches high when laden with water and extends to a length of 50 feet.

Or the user can rely on a handy hose or fire hydrant.

Once deployed, the system works beautifully to divert incoming water flow. These flexible and sturdy containers may be easily laid around corners or deployed on a staircase.

When high water threatens, you simply surround your property with this product, leaving a buffer zone in place that measures about six feet in length.

One inflated layer of bags can keep one foot of water from reaching your property. By connecting your own protection system with another owned by your neighbour, you have the capability of building a protective line that extends a mile or more. And by stacking the lines and lashing them together, it's no trick at all to add to their depth.

"Just tell you're neighbours what you're planning to do.

Then you can link your systems together," adds company president Ron Stickley. "Unlike sandbags, our system has zero negative impact on the environment. Cleanup is quick, easy and complete," he adds. "When flood waters recede, all you do is drain the water used to inflate your portable levee back into the river. Or use it to water your grass."



Similarly, the CFC system enjoys a wide range of applications for crop control. Several tonnes of flood water can actually be stored within the bags, later to be recycled for irrigation purposes.

"When the flood water goes away, you simply pull the plug on the tube system and the water runs away behind the flood waters," says Stickley. "Then you fold up your sandbag-replacement system and put it away in the garage, ready to be used the next time."

Anyone who has worked with sandbags during flooding emergencies will testify how nasty things can get after the emergency has passed. Simply put, sandbag disposal is a pain.

During flooding, sandbags soak up every conceivable kind of contaminant like a sponge.

At that stage, soaked and filthy, sandbags can weigh as much as 200 pounds each.

Normal procedure is to wrap them in plastic and bury them in landfill. Or, failing that to empty the bags and redistribute their contents - an equally distasteful task.

In Western Canada, CFC's remarkable sandbag-replacement system has found favour with a growing number of corporate and municipal users, including Teck Cominco, a major mining player; CP Rail; the Town of Valleyview, Calgary's Glencoe Golf and Country Club; and the City of Calgary.

Owned, developed and patented by U.S. Flood Control Corp., a division of International Flood Control of Carson City, Nev., this breakthrough technology was successfully demonstrated when New Orleans was hammered by Hurricane Katrina in 2006.

Testimonials to the efficacy of this product may be shared by accessing videos available via the Canada Flood Control website: www.canadafloodcontrol.ca.

Canadian customers seeking additional information are urged to contact the company via this toll-free number: 1.866.852.1118. Or stop by Corporate HQ for a visit.

The office is located at 1122A Kensington Rd. N.W. in Calgary.