More than 325 cities represented in volunteer effort to fill sandbags for Fargo flood fight

StarTribune.com ^ | 3/20/11 | AP

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Fargo city officials say volunteers came from 22 states and more than 325 cities to help fill sandbags for the upcoming Red River flood fight.

The city opened so-called Sandbag Central on Valentine's Day and filled about 2.5 million bags in 22 days. The sandbags are scheduled to be delivered to neighborhoods later this week.

About 12,800 people joined the effort.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Now here's a shining example of what happens when the government butts the hell out,

[Repeal The 17th]

“...the upcoming Red River flood fight...”
-
First I’ve heard of it, what’s going on?

[Blood of Tyrants]

Heavy snows last winter are melting along with ice in the river backing the river up.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Happens almost every year. With all of the snowfall we’ve had along with coming rains, this could be a record flood year.

[Repeal The 17th]

Thanks, from this far away, all I can offer is my prayers.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Thanks, they can use ‘em.

[freedomfiter2]

Happens almost every year. With all of the snowfall we’ve had along with coming rains, this could be a record flood year.

So why keep filling sandbags? This seems like a situation that could use a more long term solution.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

It’s been discussed, believe me.

But, they need to either put in a massive, permanent system of dikes or find a place to store 3 million sandbags.

[Sawdring]

Now here's a shining example of what happens when the government butts the hell out,

Isn't "Sandbag Central" run by the City? It is government working with volunteers.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Without 13,000 VOLUNTEERS, there would be no ‘Sandbag Central’.

And then, government would REALLY get involved.

(Think: Taxes.)

[CrazyIvan]

I live near enough to the Mississippi to see the barge
lights on a clear night. Whoever coined the phrase “sand
bagging” for goofing off never did it or had a supreme sense
of irony.

[Straight Vermonter]

They really need a huge water diversion area, a seasonal man made lake. Dikes just make it a problem for someone else downstream.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

The Red River flows north into Canada.....

I know, I’m awful...

;-)

[Sawdring]

They would call in the guard if they needed them to help out. I will be in Fargo at the end of April. Hopefully the flooding won’t be that bad.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Best of luck to you...

[trumandogz]

I wonder why people choose to live in a place that floods every few years? Even New Orleans does not flood that often.

[Venturer]

Why don’t they build Dykes?

[Mark17]

Heavy snows last winter are melting along with ice in the river backing the river up.

I was born and raised in Grand Forks. It seemed like every year we got out of school to fill sand bags. The 500 year flood of 1997 was by far the worst.

[thatjoeguy]

We could import the great wall of China.

We import everything else from there, bet we could get that shipped too...

[redhead]

"Happens almost every year. With all of the snowfall we’ve had along with coming rains, this could be a record flood year."

If my memory serves me correctly, this was the way the big Mississippi flood started out in 1993.