Sandbags a hot item as C.O. preps for flooding

Deschutes County and the city of Bend had eight spots open Tuesday where people could come and fill up sandbags, but they ran out of supplies quickly.

There’s already plenty of snow-melt on the roads around Bend, which has prompted some people to take precautions against possible flooding.

The county gave out 13,000 sand bags and 193 tons of sand in a matter of hours. People lined up in hopes it will be enough to prevent giant piles of melting snow from seeping into their homes.

There was some frustration at a few locations without sandbags. and one spot in La Pine that didn’t have sand. But at some spots, volunteers showed up to help out.

“We are helping to shovel sandbags, helping anyone that’s coming by themselves,” saod Bend Parks and Recreation worker Michelle Dery. “And anyone that needs help loading them back into their cars.”

“Really, it’s taking care of one another, making sure you help your neighbors out — making sure your property is safe,” Bend police Lt.t Clint Burleigh said. “And we’re going to get through this, you know?”

The rain that’s on the way is going to speed up the melting process.

“If we don’t have sandbags, our garages — I have some valuable stuff in my garage that’s going to get soaked,” said Bend resident Dianna Wilson.

The sandbags were a hot commodity Tuesday. All four stations in Bend ran out by around 1 p.m..

If you didn’t get a chance to get sandbags, you can stuff hay or dirt in trash bags and tape up the sides of your doors to help barricade your home from water that otherwise would come flooding in.

If you don’t know where storm drains near your home are, use this map for reference.

https://maps.ci.bend.or.us/html5viewer/?viewer=hydrantviewer