Members of the public are encouraged to sign up to assist The City of Fargo and Cass County in a joint effort to produce 400,000 sandbags.
To ensure the sandbag-filling ‘spiders’ are running at full capacity, a Sandbag Central volunteer website has been created to allow members of the public the ability to see when assistance is needed. The website, FargoND.gov/FloodVolunteers, is a tool that can be used both by individuals and groups in deciding when to volunteer. During operating hours, 200 people are needed to run at full capacity. Early mornings and evenings are currently most in need of volunteers. When individuals are ready to help, they are encouraged to call the Fargo Sandbag Central Hotline at 701.476.4000. Groups of 15 or more are encouraged to call 701.476.4141.
Sandbag Central will open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10. Operations will continue on a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekday schedule until the 400,000 sandbag goal has been achieved. The City does not anticipate operating Sandbag Central on the weekends at this time. Sandbag Central is located at 2301 8th Avenue North in Fargo. The Sandbag Volunteer website also has information on parking and shuttles.
Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney stated, “While we have made tremendous strides in our permanent flood protection efforts, this is a serious flood forecast and we’re meeting it with a serious response. Our soils are saturated to levels like we’ve never seen before and we need to be prepared. It is critically important for everyone to know that we need the public’s assistance next week to fill these bags; we cannot be complacent.”