‘AquaFence’ Goes Viral as It Protects Tampa General Hospital From Hurricane Helene Flooding
AquaFence was founded in 1999 and has offices in Norway and New Jersey.
Key Takeaways
- A barrier known as an AquaFence is going viral after videos show it protecting a hospital along Tampa Bay.
- The company was founded in 1999 and says it is “protecting more than $30 billion worth of real estate in the United States alone” including everything from hotels to gas stations to a Shake Shack.
Hurricane Helene hit Florida’s Big Bend region as a hurricane with 140 mph winds. So far, . And while there has been , including the heavily populated cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, Tampa General Hospital, situated right along Tampa Bay, has managed to stay dry.
That’s due to a 5- to 10-foot high barrier known as an AquaFence, which is on several platforms because of how it seems to have protected the region’s only Level 1 trauma center.
As continues, the AquaFence at TGH stands firm. The water-impermeable barrier is designed to withstand storm surge up to 15 feet. It has worked through multiple rain events to prevent storm waters from impacting hospital operations.
— Tampa General Hospital (@TGHCares)
AquaFence was founded in 1999 and has offices in Norway and New Jersey. According to the , its systems are “protecting more than $30 billion worth of real estate in the United States alone,” including everything from hotels to gas stations to a Shake Shack.
The product is designed to be installed quickly and (fairly) easily. In 2023, AquaFence USA President Thomas Briedis told , WTSP Tampa 10, that 100 feet of AquaFence can be installed in 30 minutes.
“They come folded together, kind of like a laptop,” he said. “You take them out of the crate, put them down and they fold open.”
Briedis also said that the company is working on a line of residential AquaFences, which would cost around $20,000. The barriers are designed to protect in a Category 5 hurricane.
“We are very confident in the system. It was been thoroughly tested,” Briedis told the outlet.
Key Takeaways
- A barrier known as an AquaFence is going viral after videos show it protecting a hospital along Tampa Bay.
- The company was founded in 1999 and says it is “protecting more than $30 billion worth of real estate in the United States alone” including everything from hotels to gas stations to a Shake Shack.
Hurricane Helene hit Florida’s Big Bend region as a hurricane with 140 mph winds. So far, . And while there has been , including the heavily populated cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, Tampa General Hospital, situated right along Tampa Bay, has managed to stay dry.
That’s due to a 5- to 10-foot high barrier known as an AquaFence, which is on several platforms because of how it seems to have protected the region’s only Level 1 trauma center.
As continues, the AquaFence at TGH stands firm. The water-impermeable barrier is designed to withstand storm surge up to 15 feet. It has worked through multiple rain events to prevent storm waters from impacting hospital operations.
— Tampa General Hospital (@TGHCares)
AquaFence was founded in 1999 and has offices in Norway and New Jersey. According to the , its systems are “protecting more than $30 billion worth of real estate in the United States alone,” including everything from hotels to gas stations to a Shake Shack.
