Over 134 show up to lay sandbags around flood-threatened Dutch island
Some 134 people responded to a call for emergency volunteers in Kampereiland where two water boards said sandbags were needed to reinforce flood protection in the area. The volunteers filled 10 thousand sandbags in a matter of hours, and placed the bags around the dykes there by 2:50 p.m. on Wednesday.
"We have practiced before, but there's more to it when it's for real," one volunteer told RTV Oost. "Compliments go to everyone who helped!" the volunteer said, noting that the conditions were wet, muddy, and generally unpleasant.
Wie komt zandzakken vullen op Kampereiland? - https://t.co/XrnvsJ9Ps1 #Nieuws pic.twitter.com/3i0bzoeT6Y
— Kampenonline (@Kampenonline) January 3, 2018
The volunteers are part of the Kampereiland Brigade, and are taught how to respond to respond when the dykes could be breached and flood the region. The island is part of the Kampen municipality in Overijssel. The Drents and Overijsselse Delta water boards made the initial call for volunteers to assist on Wednesday morning.
A Code Orange warning was in place as storms whipped across the Netherlands all of Wednesday morning and afternoon. The country deployed many flood defenses to protect against rising waters.
Dijk bij Kampereiland aanzienlijk verzwaard en verhoogd met zandzakken vanwege #storm pic.twitter.com/vMxIRW7gh6
— K v Duffelen 🌕 ᵛᵉʳᶥᶠᶥᵉᵈ (@Kamerlid151) January 3, 2018