Owatonna residents may obtain sandbags from the City Streets Department and Yard at 1100 Industrial Road.
The City of Owatonna does not provide or distribute sandbags to individual premises at risk of flooding. The prime responsibility for the prevention and protection of private property from flood damage rests with the owner of the property.
The sand and sandbags are intended to be used to restrict flood waters from entering houses or buildings via doorways and garages and entryways. Sandbag structures do not prevent water seepage and therefore should be built with the central purpose of diverting flood water around or away from buildings. The sandbags are not provided or intended to be used to provide a barrier around houses or property.
Depending on where the property is located, and the impact and the warning time of flooding, moving or raising valuable items to avoid water damage may be the most practical option to protect property.
THE SANDBAGS ARE THE PROPERTY AND RESPONSIBILITY OF RESIDENTS. RESIDENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO RETURN THE SANDBAGS TO THE CITY AND SHALL BE DISPOSED OF AT THE SANITARY LANDFILL.
Additional Resources:
Sandbagging Instructions
Protect Your Property From Flooding (fema.gov)
Preparing for Wet Weather