In an effort to assist those residents and businesses in pre-defined at-risk flood areas, the city and county are making available a limited quantity of sand and sandbags for use in protecting property.

The hours of operation for this effort will be 8am – 8pm, Thursday, June 23 through Sunday, June 26, at 6th & Atchison.

This will be on a first-come, first-serve basis until the supply of sand and bags is gone. The supplies are free to those residents and / or businesses in need.

The pre-defined areas of at-risk properties are: Residents living on the north side of St. Joseph, along Waterworks Road. Businesses in the downtown area bounded by Angelique on the north, 6th Street on the east, Monterey on the south, and the river on the west. Residential properties and businesses on the south side of St. Joseph bounded by 36 Highway on the north, Lake Avenue on the east, city limits on the south, and the river on the west. Residents of Buchanan County protected by levee L455.

Important guidelines and information as follows: Residents must check-in when first arriving at 6th & Atchison. Must show proof of residency / business in defined area. Sign a waiver of liability.

Each property will be limited to the supply of sand made available. Residential properties will be limited to three pickup loads. Residential property owners are not allowed to use commercial vehicles.

Businesses and / or service or faith-based organizations are asked to contact the city in advance by calling 816.271.4610 to request quantities needed.

For each residential pickup load of sand, residents will be given 50 sand bags, while supplies are available. City crews will load the sand into the bed of pickup trucks.

To give residents an idea of the quantity of sand they might need to protect their property, use the following example as a guide. To construct a 25-foot long wall of sand 1 foot tall would require approximately 150 sand bags. One pickup load of sand can make approximately 50 sandbags.

The purpose of this effort is to assist those truly in need of protecting their property from potential flood waters. The amount of sand and bags available is limited; please only make use of this opportunity if your property and / or business could be affected by rising river levels.

The city and county wishes to express appreciation to Bunge Milling of Atchison, Kansas, for the donation of more than 20,000 bags. Also, thanks to Jack Horner Construction Rentals for their assistance with providing a quantity of sand bags at a reduced cost.