City of North Bend release - NORTH BEND, Ore. — North Bend Fire & Rescue has completed a multi-department training exercise using a new high-capacity sandbagging machine designed to strengthen the city’s ability to respond quickly during flood events.  The equipment, a Sandbagger Model II, was provided by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management through a State Preparedness and Incident Response Equipment grant program, according to Fire Chief Jim Brown.  “This equipment is a major boost to our local flood response capability,” Brown said. “It helps us move faster, protect more homes and businesses, and support our neighbors across the region when water levels rise.”  The training focused on coordinated setup, safe operation and efficient production, with participating departments practicing how to deploy the equipment quickly when conditions change.  “When conditions change quickly, speed matters,” Brown said. “Having this machine here means we can respond sooner and scale up protection efforts when the community needs it most.”  The Sandbagger Model II is capable of producing up to 1,600 sandbags per hour and can fill four sandbags at once, allowing crews to build protective barriers faster during large-scale incidents. The system is designed for rapid deployment with a front-end loader and support crews.  Oregon emergency management officials have also positioned similar machines in other parts of the state as part of broader preparedness efforts. With the latest distribution, Oregon now has seven sandbagging machines staged statewide to expand readiness for flooding and other water-related emergencies.  Brown said the training is intended to ensure the equipment can be put to work immediately when needed.  “This is about being ready before the storm hits,” Brown said. “We’re grateful for the state’s investment in preparedness, and we want to make sure we can use it effectively the moment our community needs it.”