'Sandbag Central' opens in Fargo

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Fargo, ND, USA — The doors of "Sandbag Central" opened Monday, Feb. 14, 2011. City officials hope to fill 3 million sandbags by mid-March. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller) link to this photo

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Fargo, ND, USA — Volunteer Gail Wischmann, a sergeant with the Cass County sheriff's office, was among those helping fill sandbags at "Sandbag Central" in Fargo, N.D., on Monday, Feb. 14, 2011. Many of those working the morning shift were county and city employees as well as nearly two dozen jail inmates. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller) link to this photo

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Fargo, ND, USA — Jill Schafer, left, and Leah Viste, right, who both for Cass County, stack sandbags at "Sandbag Central" in Fargo, N.D., on Monday, Feb. 14, 2011. Officials need a minimum of 200 volunteers to keep three spider-like sandbag filling machines fully operational. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller) link to this photo

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Fargo, ND, USA — Volunteers man one of three spider-like sandbag filling machines at "Sandbag Central" in Fargo, N.D., on Monday, Feb. 14, 2011. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller) link to this photo

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Fargo, ND, USA — Tools like these, which are used to tie sandbags with a piece of wire, are in abundance. The sandbag filling process is becoming more and more streamlined with each major flood event. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller) link to this photo

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Fargo, ND, USA — Volunteer Kelly Prichard of Fargo, N.D., stacks filled sandbags. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller) link to this photo

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Fargo, ND, USA — Sandbag season has begun in the Red River Valley. The city of Fargo's "Sandbag Central" opened its doors for the first time this year this morning. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller) link to this photo

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Fargo, ND, USA — Matt Christensen, who works for the city of Fargo, N.D., watches for clumps as sand makes its way to one of three spider-like sandbag filling machines. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller) link to this photo

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Fargo, ND, USA — Jim Hausauer, the wastewater utility manager for the city of Fargo, N.D., wraps up a fresh batch of sandbags. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller) link to this photo

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Fargo, ND, USA — A pile of sand sits behind a truck loaded with new sandbags in the parking lot outside "Sandbag Central" in Fargo, N.D. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller) link to this photo