Flooding in the Midwest and rising rivers across northern Colorado have triggered a run on sandbags. And once the cheap polypropylene bags are gone, it will be months before some local wholesale suppliers can restock.
A month ago, Fulton-Denver Co., one of the largest wholesale suppliers in the state, had 380,000 unfilled sandbags in stock, but it soon sold out. On Tuesday, another 220,000 bags arrived, and about 72,000 sold immediately, said office manager Sherry Conter.
“First, we sent quite a few to the Steamboat area, then in past two weeks, most of the bags have gone to North Platte, Neb.,” Conter said. “Omaha Public Power took a big bulk of them, close to 165,000.”
Fulton-Denver typically sells wholesale to retailers such as Jax Mercantile and Big R. But during this flood season, it is making an exception and selling to individuals.
“We’ve sold quite a few in the Laporte area,” Conter said.
The Cache la Poudre River has spilled over its banks in parts of Laporte, northwest of Fort Collins. There, some residents have used as many as 150 bags to guard against floodwaters rising toward their homes.
Jax Ranch & Home near Laporte sold about 20,000 sandbags in the past two weeks.
“We have about 5,000 on hand and are getting a bigger supply tomorrow,” said Jax business-development manager Terri Reade.
On Tuesday afternoon, Fulton-Denver had about 148,000 sandbags in stock. If those sell out, it will take a few months for a new supply to arrive from China. Last year, the company sold only 126,500 sandbags.
Sandbag shortages have plagued cities in Canada and Australia, but Colorado officials say they have a backup if conditions get bad and bags are in short supply.
Colorado Division of Emergency Management spokesman Brandon Williams said in an extreme crisis, his office can locate and move sandbags from one community to another.
“We have field managers across the state, and they’re in contact with emergency managers,” Williams said. When the call comes for state aid, “we can help locate and drive” sandbags to where they are needed.
