FLOOD JOURNAL

31 MAR 2009


Five point eight inches of snow fell at Hector Airport north of the city of Fargo yesterday. The National Weather service expects a maximum total of eighteen inches. Even our mayor knows the difference between a blizzard and what the Dairy Queen serves.

Another item on the menu is the use of potatoes. No, the Irish are not saving Fargo. However, it has been learned that by tying bags of spuds to the plastic tarp, the tarping over the sand bags falls into the river keeping them from leaking at the base. Offuit, a huge potato farmer in the area, who has a contract with Frito lay and French fries, may or may not be the supplier. But if you do notice less chips on the market, remember they are fighting a flood, lest you feel famine for fries.

We ask again for people to stay off the roads. A teenager was talking on her cell phone and side swiped a sheriff vehicle last night. The visibility is poor, the streets are slippery. The department of transportation has closed North/South I29 and pulled their trucks. They can't see the road and the ditches are full of water; it is not safe.

Rather than driving, catch up on rest, stay in a routine, and keep relationships open is the advice of the mental health experts. A point was made that Mahoney slept well last night and dreamed of eating marshmallows, waking only to learn he had eaten his pillows. The people at the press conference, do, indeed look tired but assure us they are okay. The staff is taking care of themselves and one another despite curves and frustrations while all of them are not liking Mother Nature very much right now.

There has been much talk about the wind. Please understand the Red River in downtown Fargo is well protected. What we really need to look at is the lapping of water on rural roads. Think about 1997 when the wind+water hit Canada which moved the water where ever it wished in the open country. It has since been fixed.

The situation continues to be an amazing operation of great planning and numerous agencies coming together for the universal good of all. As the representative of Oak Grove School stated this morning, all the schools, both private and public have come together to form a partnership. The students from Concordia volunteered to get all the books out of the library on campus. Al W., a hero in the eyes of Oak Grove School will receive a diploma according the Missel who went on to say, "and we saved a squirrel for you". (meaning saved a squirrel from the river). Al thinks getting a Lutheran diploma is pretty good for a good old Catholic boy.

Mayor Walaker talked the first of the week about us not knowing what it was like in the flood of 1897. Human Resources as found a 99 1/2 year old who they are interviewing to learn if he heard stories from older siblings.

Our commission is concerned about the job loss hours for employees. Fema has agreed to get things moving on monetary needs through the Job Service of ND. Tom and I felt the best thing we could do was take care of Brian and Michelle, offering comfort foods and time with all of us at the same table talking about other stuff while their Labrador stretched out under the table snoring as if to say, "This is good".

The river is at 38.11, down from 39.20 yesterday morning. Experts expect additional drops before watersheds to the south are opened and draining begins into the Red River. Thus a crest but not nearly as high.

We are, as individuals, asked to stay off the roads. The commerce is asked to be closed. Our household remains diligent to the requests. Tom will eat the last of the brownies and I will make cookies for the next need for comfort food. We will keep the kitten inside of us purring.

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