Sandbag effort still on track in Cass County

Inmates from the Cass County jail have been filling these bags since Monday, and so far they've filled about 7000. And while that may look like a lot, this number of bags only protects about two homes.

Between 18 and 24 low risk inmates are working long hours to fill these bags. Volunteers can start showing up on Monday to help out. That's when the county will also start giving out empty bags to rural residents who live in risky areas.

They'll charge five cents per bag, sand will be given out at the site locations. County leaders say that plan will work better, since Cass County is so spread out. They say most sandbags filled will be done by homeowners on site.

“Until there's really a crisis, it's hard for people to get real motivated to come out and volunteer. We would take as many as we could get, but in our planning, we're not counting on that as part of our plan.”

Even with a light volunteer turnout expected here in the county, leaders say they are not planning on putting together an incentive program in order to get more volunteers out here to sandbag. Volunteers should report directly to sandbag central, at 220 21st Street North West in West Fargo, it's the Chase Steel Building.