Harry,
The way it works is that each property owner needs to prepare their area that needs to be diked, either with clay or sandbags, or both. Right now, the property owners in the distressed areas are trying as they can to remove snow from the ground, so the dike is built on solid land. The city provides filled sandbags to the areas that are distressed, and it is up to each property owner to get them stacked in an acceptable dike structure. Sandbags are delivered in roll-off boxes, and usually, if there is a group of volunteers in the area, it takes about five to ten minutes to empty a roll-off box. Engineers from the City of Fargo and the City of Moorhead help with structure design and elevations. Currently there is a sandbag filling operation going on in Fargo, and they have a goal of filling 1.5 million sandbags. Moorhead, where I live, is somewhat better off because it is naturally about five to six feet higher than Fargo, and it has about a half a million sandbags in stock from previous events. Moorhead will fill sandbags as necessary, but no filling operation has begun at this time.
As for a loader, yes, it would be nice to have one, but in this case, loaders are way too slow. The Sandbags must be placed in a certain pattern, and that needs to be done by hand. A volunteer sandbag stacking line can work way faster than a loader, even a skid steer. Beyond that, the lawns are not torn up as badly. What I need to do, if the need is there, is to haul sandbags from the street to the area along the river bank that needs to be diked. If a crew loads my 4x8 trailer with about 250-300 bags, and another crew unloads and places the bags, that cycle could take about ten minutes. It goes that fast.
This area is fortunate to have three universities and six high schools within its limits. Everyone helps who can. There is a well seasoned and centralized volunteer network to coordinate labor with need. Sandbagging is not for the faint of heart, and not for those who take life slowly. There isn't time.
Right now, my friends are alright. My home is alright, and we will be, unless the river rises to above 39 feet. With the late thaw and snow again last night, right now it is anyone's guess. I hope I don't loose my plumbing.
. I have hopes but the wife is not so understanding.I`am happy that she starts cash reg work at a big store next week.
