An odd but very successful method was used by one family in Rosharon, Texas, to stave off the rising waters when the Texas floods were imminent last week. Randy Wagner made a novel investment: an Aqua dam, a network of water-filled tubes that functions as a massive sandbag, in an effort to shield his house and family from the intense downpours.

Wagner was faced with a flood warning from the Brazos River Authority, and he realized he had to act quickly to keep his family from being moved. He described the idea of such a disruption as “heartbreaking.” After finding Aqua Dams on Google, he drove to Louisiana to acquire a 400-foot-long and 30-inch-high Aqua dam.

Wagner filled two airtight tubes within a woven polypropylene tube with the help of two more people. This clever technology prevented leaks by sealing itself and bending to the shape of the ground. The sheer weight of the water inside these tubes maintained the barrier solidly in place when the floodwaters surged to more than two feet tall.

Wagner’s family was spared the forced evacuation that many other families in Brazoria County faced. What at first glance could have seemed like a wild notion quickly became a breakthrough that saved lives. Wagner remembers that passersby scoffed at his strange project at first, but were soon amazed by the Aqua dam’s efficacy.

Wagner views the $8,300 he spent on this out-of-the-ordinary fix as a small price to pay for the possible $150,000 in damages his house may have otherwise sustained. He gave the Aqua dam high marks and advised emergency management to take this strategy into account going forward.

In a world where catastrophic weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change, creative solutions like the Aqua dam are desperately needed. When faced with natural calamities, people and communities are frequently forced to think creatively and employ unusual strategies to safeguard their homes and loved ones.

It’s possible that others will be motivated to look into creative and preventative measures to lessen the effects of flooding and other natural disasters by the Texas family’s use of water to ward off water. When it comes to disaster planning, Randy Wagner’s “crazy” notion proved to be a great and successful answer that preserved his home and kept his family safe. This goes to show that having a different perspective can make all the difference.