Sandbags are used to keep floodwaters at bay, construct military bunkers, barricade traffic areas, and weigh down objects and equipment, so they stay put. Before using, one must fill standard sandbags with sand. They have tie cords attached so you can secure them once they're filled.

Sandbags are a simple but effective method of preventing or reducing flood water damage. Sandbags that are adequately filled and placed can act as a barrier to divert moving water around buildings rather than through them.

Although sandbag construction does not guarantee a watertight seal, it is adequate for most applications. Sandbags have also been used successfully to prevent streams from overflowing due to levees and direct current flows to specific areas.