AquaFence
Reusable temporary flood barrier
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Design
The fencing consists of interlocking panels which are waterproof and puncture-resistant, can be bolted down to resist winds, and use the weight of floodwater to hold them in place.[1][2][3] Materials include marine-grade laminate, stainless steel, aluminum and reinforced PVC canvas.[3] The panels are reusable and can be stored flat between uses.[4] The technology was designed as an alternative to building seawalls or placing sandbags in the path of floodwaters.[4][3]
Deployment
An AquaFence was deployed at the Tees Barrage.[5]
An AquaFence was deployed in Mount Vernon, Washington, in 2008.[5]
Tampa, Florida's only Level I trauma center is at Tampa General Hospital, which sits directly on Tampa Bay at the northern end of the Davis Islands, which are one of the city's lowest-elevation areas.[1][2][6][7] The hospital employs an AquaFence when a hurricane is forecast; erecting the fence requires 60 workers for three days.[1] The fence the hospital uses can withstand storm surges of 15 feet (4.6 m) and wind speeds of 130 miles (210 km) per hour, which can handle a category 3 hurricane.[1][2] The hospital used the fence for the first time during 2022's category 5 Hurricane Ian.[8] During 2023's category 4 Hurricane Idalia the fence allowed about two feet of water through.[1] It was also deployed during 2024's category 3 Hurricane Helene, successfully protecting the hospital.[9][10] It was deployed for 2024's Hurricane Milton.[7]
AquaFences have also been used to protect private properties such as luxury homes in flood-prone or hurricane-prone areas.[4]
Company
AquaFence was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Oslo, Norway.[5]