As Hurricane Milton bears down on Jacksonville, the city is employing innovative flood-prevention measures with the deployment of Tiger Dams for the first time. These sizeable water-filled tubes offer a seal against the impending storm surge anticipated to accompany the hurricane. First Coast News reported the Tiger Dams have been placed in areas without significant natural dune barriers, while also recounting Gov. Ron DeSantis's approval of the technology following its successful application during Hurricane Helene.
Prior to Milton's arrival, officials have taken preparatory actions, erecting a ring of these dams around specific locations such as Landon Avenue pump station and Children’s Way, both recognized as flood-prone areas. Despite the winds and rain ready to lash Jacksonville Beaches and the Intracoastal Waterway, the concern peaks with the forecasted high tides at 3 a.m. and again at 3 p.m. today, Jacksonville Today reports. Areas like San Marco, Ortega, Riverside, and others are prepped for river flooding that could last into the following week.
Mirroring steps taken in Bradenton and Tampa during Hurricane Helene, Tiger Dams were effectively used to protect critical infrastructure. Weighing an immense 6,300 pounds upon filling, an individual Tiger Dam is equivalent to hundreds of sandbags, explained by U.S. Flood Control, the manufacturer of the product, as learned from First Coast News. These barriers can be linked for extended protection and are reusable, offering a sustainable option for future emergency scenarios.
Mayor Donna Deegan has also confirmed the deployment of the dams in pivotal areas such as Ahern Street, Atlantic Boulevard, and Seagate Avenue, spotlighting Tiger Dams' role in the city's defense strategy against Hurricane Milton. During a city briefing, Jacksonville’s Director of Emergency Management, Andre Ayoub, highlighted the device's importance, especially for coastal incidents, and acknowledged that the initial focus in response meetings was the quick deployment of the dams, "Especially when we knew it was going to be a coastal event," Ayoub said during a statement obtained by News4Jax.
