The call for volunteers to help sandbag in the area's fight against rising floodwaters went out again as local and state officials met this morning.
"We're confident in getting them delivered," one official said during the meeting. "Getting them made is more daunting."
Sandbag volunteers are needed to make at least 300,000 sandbags per day to prevent widespread flooding through neighborhoods and subdivisions in Fargo and Cass County.
Officials said they need at least 350 sandbag volunteers around the clock, and a third sandbag-making machine is expected to arrive today.
The North Dakota National Guard has devoted 350 soldiers to help with the effort, and officials said they need all the help they can get from the public.
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"That's the only way we survived in '97 was everybody pitching in," Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker said.
In Fargo, the city is working on bolstering its defenses today in the central core of the city, including the Lindenwood area and south Fargo to address overland flows.
On the northside, crews are working in the El Zagal and Oak Street areas. They move onto the Oak Grove neighborhood and then move north to the Ridgewood area.
Cass County Engineer Keith Berndt said traffic will be "significantly impeded" as crews begin erecting dirt dikes on roads.
Gov. John Hoeven visited sandbag central earlier.
"The fight is in full gear here," he said, adding that he's "very concerned" about the flood-fighting effort in Fargo and Wahpeton.
Hoeven plans to visit Wahpeton today, too.
In addition, classes at North Dakota State University will be canceled at 9 a.m. Students from Fargo schools also will be helping.
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So far, officials said about 560,000 have been filled, but the city previously said it needs 1.5 million to 2 million sandbags. Up to 3 million sandbags may be needed in Cass County.
Volunteers are asked to report directly to the Fargodome, where they can take a shuttle to areas which are in the greatest need.
On the Moorhead side, volunteer sandbags are asked to report directly to Nemzek Hall on the Minnesota State University Moorhead campus.
For more information, call (701) 476-4000.
Check www.inforum.com frequently for updates.
Through the duration of the anticipated flood, The Forum and WDAY AM 970 will be teaming up to bring timely, updated information on www.inforum.com , the www.areavoices.com/springflood blog and radio.
More than a dozen reporters and editors from The Forum, along with staff from WDAY radio, will be providing updates, including breaking news on WDAY AM 970.
Tune in to the radio station for the latest flood updates, weather forecast and breaking news. Reporters will be calling in live reports to WDAY as flood preparations begin in earnest Saturday, and during the coming week.
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Forum reporters will bring listeners reports from throughout the area as they canvass neighborhoods to stay on top of the news.
