Mike McComb loads sand bags in his truck at the Salt Lake County Public Works Operations Division in Midvale on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. County residents are permitted to fill up to 25 sandbags. McComb and his family live near Cottonwood Creek and has had flooding in the past. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The sun is out and the weather’s finally getting warmer. That means Utahns need to be prepared for spring runoff. Rest easy knowing that it’s not too late to get sandbags, as several city offices are still offering them.
Salt Lake County Emergency Management Division Chief, Clint Mecham, joined Dave and Dujanovic with hosts Dave Noriega and Debbie Dujanovic to discuss where residents can get sandbags.
Noriega opens the conversation by asking a simple question.
“Do I have to provide my own sand?”
Mecham responded, “No you don’t have to provide your own sand.” He said each place offering sandbags provide sand and bags. However, Utahns are asked to scoop their own sand if they are capable.
According to Mecham, sandbags from city offices are free.
“Again, the only thing that we’re asking for is a little bit of sweat equity, if you will, to fill your own bags so we can keep our stockpiles where they need to be,” he said.
Following this, Noriega asked if there was a limit on the number of sandbags someone can take.
“So I know for the Salt Lake County Public Works Yard, we’re asking the limit to be 25 per car per day,” Mecham said. “So we make sure that … we have availability for everybody in the county. Other sites may be specific.”
Mecham said 25 sandbags will be enough depending on what someone is trying to do.
“If you have areas of your home that are susceptible to attracting pools of water, for example, window wells or walk-out basements, those are the areas that you want to reinforce in between sandbags,” he said. “You can even dig little channels away from your home with a shovel to provide the water someplace to go during runoff.”
He said if water is “out of bank” 25 sandbags will not go very far.
“For preliminary prep purposes, for the groundwater seepage and the initial snow melt, 25 should be able to go quite a ways for you on your individual homes,” he said.
Below is a list of some city offices offering sandbags. Check with your city to see where sandbags are offered.
Listen to the full segment below.
Dave & Dujanovic can be heard on weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon.