Rain has slowed work at the city’s sandbag sites, but the need for volunteers at those sites is more urgent than ever, as North Dakota National Guard soldiers will soon be reassigned. Guard soldiers have been operating the sandbag machines since last Thursday, but because of their technical expertise, they are being reassigned to better use their abilities in the city’s flood fight.
“It takes 38 people to properly run each spider sandbag machine at our sites. We have three spider machines. That’s more than a hundred people just to run those machines. We have additional sandbag machines at Sandbag Central North that take 25 people to operate. Even more people are needed to carry bags from the machines to the trailers,” says Bismarck Lt. Steve Kilde.
Kilde says at least 120 people are needed at Sandbag Central South (Northern Plains Commerce Center, 1901 Northern Plains Drive), 50 volunteers are needed at Missouri Valley Fairgrounds (3805 E. Bismarck Expressway), and another 50 volunteers at Sandbag Charlie (521 South 22nd Street).
“There are jobs at our sandbag sites for people of all ages and abilities,” says Kilde.
All three of those sandbag sites are open 24 hours a day. Right now wait there are less than two hours. There is a limit of 250 sandbags per vehicle, per trip.
Volunteers should bring a shovel and gloves. Volunteers must register before they begin filling sandbags. Parental consent is required for those under age 18. Consent forms are available at both Sandbag Central and Sandbag Central South. You can also download the consent form at www.bismarck.org.
Self-fill Sites are located at the following sites:
• Horizon Middle School (500 Ash Coulee Drive)
• Santa Fe Avenue, Cottonwood Complex west of South 12th Street
• Whispering Bay Subdivision, Shoreline Circle (daylight hours only)
• 48th Avenue and Sibley Drive (daylight hours only)
• Ponderosa Park (daylight hours only)
• Hogue Road (daylight hours only)