Hurricane Helene hit the Big Bend region of Florida around Category 4 a hurricane with winds of 140 miles per hour. Yet, over 100 deaths were reported. And although it was extensive floodincluding the densely populated cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, Tampa General Hospital, positioned right on Tampa Bay, managed to remain dry.
This is due to a 5- to 3-foot-tall barrier generally known as AquaFence goes viral on several platforms because it appeared to guard the region’s only Level 1 trauma center.
How #HurricaneHelene continues, AquaFence at TGH stays unchanged. The water-impermeable barrier is designed to resist storm surges as much as 15 feet high. The system has proven itself during multiple rainfall events to forestall stormwater from affecting hospital operations. #WeAreTGH #StormWatch pic.twitter.com/papsd6oPg2
— Tampa General Hospital (@TGHCares) September 27, 2024
AquaFence was founded in 1999 and has offices in Norway and New Jersey. According to company websiteits systems “protect over $30 billion in properties in the United States alone,” including every part from hotels to gas stations and Shake Shack.
The product is designed to be installed quickly and (fairly) easily. In 2023, said AquaFence USA President Thomas Briedis local outletWTSP Tampa 10 that 30 meters of AquaFence may be installed in half-hour.
“They are put together, kind of like a laptop,” he said. “You take them out of the cage, put them down and they open up.”
Briedis also said the company is working on a line of AquaFences for residential buildings that can cost about $20,000. The barriers were designed to guard against a Category 5 hurricane.
“We have great confidence in the system. It has been thoroughly tested,” Briedis told the outlet.