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SANDY -- The threat of flooding hangs over Salt Lake County, but man and machine are coming together to deal with it.
Meet "Megga Bagger." It's the county's latest line of defense, and it's on wheels.
"You can just keep filling and filling. As long as the hopper stays full, you've got bags," said County Operations Manager Rich Judson. "We ordered it on wheels so we could mobilize it in the field to wherever it's needed."
Come help fill and tie sandbags for Salt Lake County.
- Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m.
- Salt Lake County Public Works Facility
- 6960 South 604 West
Salt Lake County borrowed the state's machine last year. This year, it bought its own at a hefty price tag of $23,000. But the output is equally huge.
This machine has not entirely replaced the need for human help, however. The county still needs hands to tie bags and do a lot more filling and shoveling.
And the demand is up as anxious residents are coming every day to pick up sandbags. The county is in high gear trying to keep up.
For a sandbag drive to be held Saturday in Midvale, the county needs to have 10,000 bags on hand at all times and keep pumping them out. Volunteers are wanted, badly.
"All you need to do for tomorrow is come with a shovel and, if you have it, a bucket and a pair of gloves and a community spirit," said Sheryl Ivey, volunteer services manager.
Every little bit of an effort counts, and it's going to be a bigger deal because problems could surface as early as this next week.
"Anyone along a flood plain or along those creeks are already calling us with concerns, and we've deployed a lot of sand and sandbags along those areas," said Public Works Director Patrick Leary.
Staging areas have been plotted in potential flood zones. The first signs of trouble are expected to the north, around City Creek, then should migrate south near Emigration Creek and the Cottonwoods.
"We've been working since last year, of course, around the clock most recently, to prepare those areas," Leary said.
The risk underscores the need for volunteers to prevent damage one sandbag at a time.
Email: aadams@ksl.com
