Few communities have required more extensive sandbagging operations than Grand Forks, North Dakota, in April, 1997’s record flood. Three-million sand bags were filled during that disaster, reports Jim Campbell, Grand Forks Emergency Services Manager.
Two types of sand bags were employed during that flood—bags of burlap and of polyethylene. Neither is biodegradable and each must be removed after flood waters recede. Campbell says used sandbags were picked up by front-end loaders and hauled to landfills—as was any sandbag contaminated by river water. Bags not touched by the river were donated for use in the community.