30 MAR 2009
Her name isn't important, her occupation is; she is one of many certified nurses aids who followed the residents of her nursing home to Steele, ND, a hundred and fifty some miles straight west when the home was evacuated. They rotate a dozen aides every three days, they work 12 hour shifts. Her mood was up beat, although she was tired. She will be recalled after a rest, if necessary. WILLING
Mayor Walaker quotes Harry Truman, saying, "The buck stops here." His niagara of emails continue. He reminds us that in 1997, the city ramped up more than once. He calls for diligence and not letting down the high alert until the water has dropped to thirty-six feet. Non essential businesses are yammering to get back to work and service and obviously the ring of the register. His concern is traffic, safety of the city, and ability for crews to make quick work of getting around. He did not comment on whether or not liquor stores were essential.
Although the police department and the commission request stores stay closed, retailers are opening. Many of the blogs include statements of complaint. If not in the flood zone what is the problem with opening? Again, it is stressed the streets many be needed for equipment and snarled traffic can be avoided. Accidents pull police off the focus.
The water level in Fargo is 39.2 feet this morning. It was 40.15 yesterday at this time. We are encouraged, even with the possibility of a foot of snow falling in the next 48 hours with winds 20-35 mph.
Sandbag Central opened for business at 8'clock Sunday morning and filled for twenty-four hours. Tom wondered, in wait, to see if it was going to be extended; he is rested and ready. It was, as Pat Zavoral said, "The world's biggest beach party". The volunteers brought the inventory up to 450K bags. An unnamed faceless person suggest we should store sandbags so we are 'ready'. Think about a football field, which is 100 hundred long. Imagine half a football field covered and stacked high with sandbags.
The hospitals and nursing homes hope to begin the returning and open for business and are planning returns from around a tri-state area. Prairie St. John's, the psych hospital, hopes to start earlier. Many people who would use their services are going to ER and walk in centers; these people need specialized help.
We need to keep this epic flood in focus. As individuals, we need to consider public safety and stand vigilant with the city plan to get us through this time. It is a time to use our coping skills and comfort others. All of us, will be a new normal when the city is cleaned up, the sand bags and dikes are taken down and the honeymoon is over.
Remain positive with us. And if you wish to canoe, choose a different river.
e
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
FLOOD JOURNAL
29 MAR 2009
The headline of the Fargo Forum for Sunday is
HOLDING STEADY
River level in Fargo at 9 A was 40.15, at 11A it is 40.07.
The steel permanent barrier protecting Oak Grove Lutheran School in north Fargo had gushing water coming for underneath the dike, not over. Two buildings are lost and two more are threatened. Another levy has keep the family homes safe for now. The concern for the campus was first acknowledged in the early planning meetings, as it is on a point; think about what a peninsula is. When a river, which on a normal day, travels at 4 miles and hour and is now moving at 12 miles an hour, there is erosion in the banks as it whips around yet another oxbow in this river of many twists. Our sympathies go out to them.
Although the Home Land Security feels all of Fargo needs to be evacuated, we need to remember the plans for such evacuations are a rigid outline for Any City, USA. We are not Grand Forks in 1997 when downtown flooded and burned and we are not Katrina of 2005.
Our river, although running swiftly, is running efficiently with no ice jams. We believe the city knows the big picture from the small picture as Dr. Mahoney, Vice Mayor, demonstrated with a railroad lantern; big beam, small beam.
Let's talk about the Predator, the unmanned, remote controlled craft borrowed from the border patrol. This valuable technology is being used to measure water levels, river flows, ice jams and other necessary numbers to help the Red River Valley understand what is happening from the air and below the clouds. And no, you can't have a ride~nor can any of the commissioners of Fargo OR government officials. How do we know that? Someone asked.
When the Mayor requested non-essential businesses remain closed, he did not realize his favorite Dairy Queen would not be available for a BBQ and shake. That is just how well the city residents are listening. The Blue Law, which means nothing open until noon on Sunday, has been lifted for essential items. It is important to understand every business in Fargo is important but food, gas, and flood flight supplies are priority. Somehow Walmart found its way into ESSENTIAL.
Pomeroy could not remember who said "It ain't over til it is over" when he said we are still in the main event. He used the example regarding the Fighting Sioux hockey team who were up two, yet got tied in the last 1/10 of a second pushing the game into overtime. The point is well received. We appreciate an opportunity to laugh; without it we would be ice jammed in stress. I am certain by now, Pomeroy remembers it was Yogi Berra.
In the county of Cass, boats are going door to door to check on people. Those who have phones may call and delivery of needs will be done. Some of these folks are cut off but on high ground. Hopefully other counties along the Red River on both sides are doing the same.
As I write, the Ramada Inn has conference rooms open for prayer services. Fifty+ ambulances remain available. The hospitals ARE open, Merit Care for emergencies and Innovis ER and hospital itself is functioning.
Sandbagging at the Fargodome restarts. Of the 300,000 bags on hand, a third of them went out yesterday. The new inventory number is 500,000. Someone from the floor asked him if he was trying to beat the pancake record. (It is one of those inside jokes about the Kiwanis Club trying to break a record of the number of cakes served in eight hours).
Permanent dikes come from funding. Funding is released through the Army Corp of Engineers. A plan for just the city of Fargo has been submitted. The Mayor told them we need a plan for both sides of the river including Moorhead. A study of this is on going. People who have river view homes don't want to look at a dike, they want to look at the river. We all would.
Our Mayor, a big man of 6'5" is coughing. He told us not to worry about him, he had the doctor, referring to the Vice Mayor Mahoney, and his black bag right here. Mayor Walaker stated again he had found his mother and had talked with her. The Governor Hoeven told him they knew were she was all the time, they just didn't tell him. As it is with the humor in this part of the country, we are all aware we have to break the gloom and doom to break the stress. The flood isn't any fun.
e
The headline of the Fargo Forum for Sunday is
HOLDING STEADY
River level in Fargo at 9 A was 40.15, at 11A it is 40.07.
The steel permanent barrier protecting Oak Grove Lutheran School in north Fargo had gushing water coming for underneath the dike, not over. Two buildings are lost and two more are threatened. Another levy has keep the family homes safe for now. The concern for the campus was first acknowledged in the early planning meetings, as it is on a point; think about what a peninsula is. When a river, which on a normal day, travels at 4 miles and hour and is now moving at 12 miles an hour, there is erosion in the banks as it whips around yet another oxbow in this river of many twists. Our sympathies go out to them.
Although the Home Land Security feels all of Fargo needs to be evacuated, we need to remember the plans for such evacuations are a rigid outline for Any City, USA. We are not Grand Forks in 1997 when downtown flooded and burned and we are not Katrina of 2005.
Our river, although running swiftly, is running efficiently with no ice jams. We believe the city knows the big picture from the small picture as Dr. Mahoney, Vice Mayor, demonstrated with a railroad lantern; big beam, small beam.
Let's talk about the Predator, the unmanned, remote controlled craft borrowed from the border patrol. This valuable technology is being used to measure water levels, river flows, ice jams and other necessary numbers to help the Red River Valley understand what is happening from the air and below the clouds. And no, you can't have a ride~nor can any of the commissioners of Fargo OR government officials. How do we know that? Someone asked.
When the Mayor requested non-essential businesses remain closed, he did not realize his favorite Dairy Queen would not be available for a BBQ and shake. That is just how well the city residents are listening. The Blue Law, which means nothing open until noon on Sunday, has been lifted for essential items. It is important to understand every business in Fargo is important but food, gas, and flood flight supplies are priority. Somehow Walmart found its way into ESSENTIAL.
Pomeroy could not remember who said "It ain't over til it is over" when he said we are still in the main event. He used the example regarding the Fighting Sioux hockey team who were up two, yet got tied in the last 1/10 of a second pushing the game into overtime. The point is well received. We appreciate an opportunity to laugh; without it we would be ice jammed in stress. I am certain by now, Pomeroy remembers it was Yogi Berra.
In the county of Cass, boats are going door to door to check on people. Those who have phones may call and delivery of needs will be done. Some of these folks are cut off but on high ground. Hopefully other counties along the Red River on both sides are doing the same.
As I write, the Ramada Inn has conference rooms open for prayer services. Fifty+ ambulances remain available. The hospitals ARE open, Merit Care for emergencies and Innovis ER and hospital itself is functioning.
Sandbagging at the Fargodome restarts. Of the 300,000 bags on hand, a third of them went out yesterday. The new inventory number is 500,000. Someone from the floor asked him if he was trying to beat the pancake record. (It is one of those inside jokes about the Kiwanis Club trying to break a record of the number of cakes served in eight hours).
Permanent dikes come from funding. Funding is released through the Army Corp of Engineers. A plan for just the city of Fargo has been submitted. The Mayor told them we need a plan for both sides of the river including Moorhead. A study of this is on going. People who have river view homes don't want to look at a dike, they want to look at the river. We all would.
Our Mayor, a big man of 6'5" is coughing. He told us not to worry about him, he had the doctor, referring to the Vice Mayor Mahoney, and his black bag right here. Mayor Walaker stated again he had found his mother and had talked with her. The Governor Hoeven told him they knew were she was all the time, they just didn't tell him. As it is with the humor in this part of the country, we are all aware we have to break the gloom and doom to break the stress. The flood isn't any fun.
e
Sunday, April 5, 2009
FLOOD JOURNAL
28 MAR 2009
I had mentioned to Ryen the Red River of the North begins at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and the Otter Tail river in Southern ND/MN. The beginning of what is to become the Red, starts at Lake Traverse east of Sissiton, SD. It is hoped they can hold the water in Lake Traverse as well as at Bull Run dam on the Sheyenne River, which runs into the Red in West Fargo. No water has been released.
There will be 1,850 National Guard up and down the Red River Valley today, monitoring dikes, running pumps, and in Fargo, walking 48 some miles just around Fargo. Thirteen hundred sandbags which hold one ton of sand each are on stand bye to be dropped by helicopter incase of a breech. Mayor Walaker calls them big diapers. Along with big diapers, explosive experts are on stand by to break up ice, as needed. We are an innovative society.
Without taking a breath, Walaker said his sister called from Connecticut and wanted to know where their mother, who is in a nursing home or assisted living, and has been evacuated to. Although it is not funny, it is because Walaker went on to say, "Even the mayor does have special privileges."
It is important for all of you reading this to understand that Fargo city limits is what Fargo is protecting. As painful as that is to many of you, they did reach out in 1997 and the system in place for the city of Fargo would have been compromised if the dike had broken. The city of Fargo has not lost a house. Their water and sewer plants are functioning well as is the electricity, no grids have been shut down. As mentioned before, the city fathers of Fargo are NOT telling people to turn off their electricity if they leave and it won't be turned off unless the owner requests it, think about sump pumps and what they do to protect houses.
Behind closed doors, as much as two and a half months ago, the meetings began on planning for what was thought, was a repeat of the 1997 flood. Tom reminds me that someone announced the governor had to get off his ass and get things started. The goal is to get INDIVIDUAL assistance to rebuild from FEMA not a blanket plan. It is in the works but not signed.
Fargo remains in the eyes of the nation. The direction of leadership and the volunteer spirit is fundamental to this group of people living near the Red. We all know their will be high and low moments in our spirits and concerns in the roller coaster fight with the river. When sand bagging operations ceased at the Fargodome at 6 last night, people didn't want to stop.
Some may be wondering why Fargo doesn't have a dike all around the city. Before being too critical, consider that in 1997, flooding was problematic at 31 feet; this year of 2009 it is an issue at 38 feet. Something has been done but not enough, who would have thought?
The bullish rumor of the day is the Mayor and the governor have ordered a mandatory evacuation of the entire city. This is NOT so. Several hundred people have been dispersed from the fairgrounds which include adult facilities like group homes. Videos of evacuation sites on last nights news showed only a handful of people in the building.
We know the focus is on Fargo; we are getting the good and the bad press. We know we are in High Alert. We know that when the water crests, it is not time to say, "Let's go shopping!" We are on alert until the water falls below the sand bags and then, we can shop, and get trash pick up and snow removal. But we aren't there yet and don't expect to be for several days.
Yet in all of this, we do see a message of hope and we do see the message of help. We, as a city are determined. The guard will walk this 48 or so miles of dikes, the police and fire department will monitor, as well. And every citizen is responsible to watch and wait, hopefully like a waitress. And if the river wins, then, we will go to plan two because that is who we are.
Mahoney may have said it best, "Think of Fargo as ICU. We watch 24/7, we limit visitors."
May you be in wellness.
e
I had mentioned to Ryen the Red River of the North begins at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and the Otter Tail river in Southern ND/MN. The beginning of what is to become the Red, starts at Lake Traverse east of Sissiton, SD. It is hoped they can hold the water in Lake Traverse as well as at Bull Run dam on the Sheyenne River, which runs into the Red in West Fargo. No water has been released.
There will be 1,850 National Guard up and down the Red River Valley today, monitoring dikes, running pumps, and in Fargo, walking 48 some miles just around Fargo. Thirteen hundred sandbags which hold one ton of sand each are on stand bye to be dropped by helicopter incase of a breech. Mayor Walaker calls them big diapers. Along with big diapers, explosive experts are on stand by to break up ice, as needed. We are an innovative society.
Without taking a breath, Walaker said his sister called from Connecticut and wanted to know where their mother, who is in a nursing home or assisted living, and has been evacuated to. Although it is not funny, it is because Walaker went on to say, "Even the mayor does have special privileges."
It is important for all of you reading this to understand that Fargo city limits is what Fargo is protecting. As painful as that is to many of you, they did reach out in 1997 and the system in place for the city of Fargo would have been compromised if the dike had broken. The city of Fargo has not lost a house. Their water and sewer plants are functioning well as is the electricity, no grids have been shut down. As mentioned before, the city fathers of Fargo are NOT telling people to turn off their electricity if they leave and it won't be turned off unless the owner requests it, think about sump pumps and what they do to protect houses.
Behind closed doors, as much as two and a half months ago, the meetings began on planning for what was thought, was a repeat of the 1997 flood. Tom reminds me that someone announced the governor had to get off his ass and get things started. The goal is to get INDIVIDUAL assistance to rebuild from FEMA not a blanket plan. It is in the works but not signed.
Fargo remains in the eyes of the nation. The direction of leadership and the volunteer spirit is fundamental to this group of people living near the Red. We all know their will be high and low moments in our spirits and concerns in the roller coaster fight with the river. When sand bagging operations ceased at the Fargodome at 6 last night, people didn't want to stop.
Some may be wondering why Fargo doesn't have a dike all around the city. Before being too critical, consider that in 1997, flooding was problematic at 31 feet; this year of 2009 it is an issue at 38 feet. Something has been done but not enough, who would have thought?
The bullish rumor of the day is the Mayor and the governor have ordered a mandatory evacuation of the entire city. This is NOT so. Several hundred people have been dispersed from the fairgrounds which include adult facilities like group homes. Videos of evacuation sites on last nights news showed only a handful of people in the building.
We know the focus is on Fargo; we are getting the good and the bad press. We know we are in High Alert. We know that when the water crests, it is not time to say, "Let's go shopping!" We are on alert until the water falls below the sand bags and then, we can shop, and get trash pick up and snow removal. But we aren't there yet and don't expect to be for several days.
Yet in all of this, we do see a message of hope and we do see the message of help. We, as a city are determined. The guard will walk this 48 or so miles of dikes, the police and fire department will monitor, as well. And every citizen is responsible to watch and wait, hopefully like a waitress. And if the river wins, then, we will go to plan two because that is who we are.
Mahoney may have said it best, "Think of Fargo as ICU. We watch 24/7, we limit visitors."
May you be in wellness.
e
Saturday, April 4, 2009
FLOOD JOURNAL
27 MAR 2009
I have a little more sense of security for the neighborhood right now. Why, you ask.
We live two blocks from the middle school they are using for evacuations from other parts of the city.
Tom was able to get a generator at Menards and a back up sump pump if ours, which is now nine years old, fails. The vehicles are filled with gas and can be used in the generator.
We agreed the generator was first line defense to protect the heating system. It is a difference of $600 and $6000 or more dollars. We can also run two sumps, if necessary.
The Fargodome is full of sand bags. The dome is in North Fargo. No one except from North Fargo is encouraged to go to there to work. Why? Because of the traffic ban on major through routes needed to breeze through town with trucks and heavy equipment.
Although there is no water in the areas that were evacuated last night, it was the best move for the safety of the people living near the river and in an assisted living building.
Meritcare moved 170 patients out of Fargo to hospitals in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Bismarck, and Sioux Falls. This impressive effort was done in six hours. The shot of a line of ambulances, helicopters, and buses was impressive. Trauma centers at Merit Care and Innovis remain open. Innovis is much higher ground and will not close. Two commercial planes are landing at the airport today to carry more vulnerable adults to additional facilities as far away as Iowa.
The dike patrol, which is police, fireman, city employees, and 1,700 National Guard, will walk 58 miles of river and canals looking for problematic areas. One of the problems is the bags were placed on frozen ground, the water level as thawed the ground making seepage from underneath a possibility. We need to realize the troops are also bringing in equipment.
Volunteers filled a half a million sand bags yesterday, a huge step up after filling just 3 million in five days. They will remain in the dome until called for as at 12 degrees, even cooler than yesterday, they will freeze like bricks.
The phone rang last night after we were a sleep. It was the RED CODE which is a recording asking for help. They can dispense 60,000 calls in minutes. It was not near us, rather by the water and waste plant. Actually, the message was to tell us what was happening, as at the latest news conference last night, the no volunteers were allowed to sand bag after dark for their safety. It took awhile to understand that. We opened the laptop and read what we had heard on the phone. It was a fitful night, and as I told Shirley, Tom and I held hands all night, lest we float away, we were going to do it together.
One of the things I admire about the people in charge is how they crush any rumors that may start. For example, when parts of Moorhead, our sister city was to evacuate, the rumor was the power company was going to cut their power whether they stayed or not. The power will remain on unless the owner requests a shut off. And of course, you can throw your breakers yourself, just don't be standing in water when you do it, DUH!!???
A twelve year old who was sandbagging at the dome, told Senator Pomeroy that he was doing this because it was his duty. And that is why Tom was there too. That is why another person butters 6,500 sandwiches.
His name is Tim Mahoney. He is general surgeon at Innovis. But for now, he is a well spoken, get on his toes type of leader who stands shoulder to shoulder with our mayor. Between the two of them, it is known we are focused on saving what we have protected and the cold weather is a break for us. Walaker said Fargo had everything thrown at us except a tornado, from the audience someone said he better not say that out loud. He promised he wouldn't.
And so dear people, for now, it is stand and defend. For us, that means installing a plug in the sewer drain, learning how the generator works. Make ready the second sump pump and stay well, hold hands and hug. We don't think our house will be compromised but we had to think it through. Think about this, we don't have little kids and pets to worry about it. The two of us will just creak to a vehicle and get out of Dodge.
Peace to all who enter in.
I have a little more sense of security for the neighborhood right now. Why, you ask.
We live two blocks from the middle school they are using for evacuations from other parts of the city.
Tom was able to get a generator at Menards and a back up sump pump if ours, which is now nine years old, fails. The vehicles are filled with gas and can be used in the generator.
We agreed the generator was first line defense to protect the heating system. It is a difference of $600 and $6000 or more dollars. We can also run two sumps, if necessary.
The Fargodome is full of sand bags. The dome is in North Fargo. No one except from North Fargo is encouraged to go to there to work. Why? Because of the traffic ban on major through routes needed to breeze through town with trucks and heavy equipment.
Although there is no water in the areas that were evacuated last night, it was the best move for the safety of the people living near the river and in an assisted living building.
Meritcare moved 170 patients out of Fargo to hospitals in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Bismarck, and Sioux Falls. This impressive effort was done in six hours. The shot of a line of ambulances, helicopters, and buses was impressive. Trauma centers at Merit Care and Innovis remain open. Innovis is much higher ground and will not close. Two commercial planes are landing at the airport today to carry more vulnerable adults to additional facilities as far away as Iowa.
The dike patrol, which is police, fireman, city employees, and 1,700 National Guard, will walk 58 miles of river and canals looking for problematic areas. One of the problems is the bags were placed on frozen ground, the water level as thawed the ground making seepage from underneath a possibility. We need to realize the troops are also bringing in equipment.
Volunteers filled a half a million sand bags yesterday, a huge step up after filling just 3 million in five days. They will remain in the dome until called for as at 12 degrees, even cooler than yesterday, they will freeze like bricks.
The phone rang last night after we were a sleep. It was the RED CODE which is a recording asking for help. They can dispense 60,000 calls in minutes. It was not near us, rather by the water and waste plant. Actually, the message was to tell us what was happening, as at the latest news conference last night, the no volunteers were allowed to sand bag after dark for their safety. It took awhile to understand that. We opened the laptop and read what we had heard on the phone. It was a fitful night, and as I told Shirley, Tom and I held hands all night, lest we float away, we were going to do it together.
One of the things I admire about the people in charge is how they crush any rumors that may start. For example, when parts of Moorhead, our sister city was to evacuate, the rumor was the power company was going to cut their power whether they stayed or not. The power will remain on unless the owner requests a shut off. And of course, you can throw your breakers yourself, just don't be standing in water when you do it, DUH!!???
A twelve year old who was sandbagging at the dome, told Senator Pomeroy that he was doing this because it was his duty. And that is why Tom was there too. That is why another person butters 6,500 sandwiches.
His name is Tim Mahoney. He is general surgeon at Innovis. But for now, he is a well spoken, get on his toes type of leader who stands shoulder to shoulder with our mayor. Between the two of them, it is known we are focused on saving what we have protected and the cold weather is a break for us. Walaker said Fargo had everything thrown at us except a tornado, from the audience someone said he better not say that out loud. He promised he wouldn't.
And so dear people, for now, it is stand and defend. For us, that means installing a plug in the sewer drain, learning how the generator works. Make ready the second sump pump and stay well, hold hands and hug. We don't think our house will be compromised but we had to think it through. Think about this, we don't have little kids and pets to worry about it. The two of us will just creak to a vehicle and get out of Dodge.
Peace to all who enter in.
Friday, April 3, 2009
FLOOD JOURNAL
26 MAR 2009
The snow continues. The feel real temperature is minus 3. The wind is blowing. Sandbagging continues. Buses to carry people to sights are coming from all over, as are individuals. Two bodies equal four arms times thousands. It is more overwhelming to try to realize the amount of support for Fargo than it is to be overwhelmed by the water. Fargo is doing everything they can, with the support of family to family and group to group, and good communication.
The NDSU basketball players here in Fargo, played the Jayhawks from Lawrence, KS in March Madness last week. Those same players are now sand bagging. According to the article in the Lawrence Journal World, "This is a no-brainer for us,” said Saul Phillips, head basketball coach, in a statement. “People need help, and we’ve got able-bodied guys. Anybody that has been around our program knows how well the community supported us, and they need us now. They’ve got us.”
Dennis Walaker, our mayor, told the Salvation Army representative, That any time you see the Salvation Army and the Red Cross working side by side, we know it is a disaster." Yes, it is potentially that real.
Evacuation plans are laid. No matter where one lives in this huge area that has been affected know to move valuables to higher levels and shut off your water to save the laborious hours of cleaning the water system if it flows overland to your property. People who have sand bagged their homes are expected to watch their dikes and report seeping. Dumpsters with sand bags are near. Frozen sand bags, you ask? Drop the bag on the ground, the sand will break up.
It is all about family helping family and groups helping groups. Anytime you see Bison shirts and Fighting Sioux shirts working side by side, you know the people are coming together.
Fear may be a good motivate. Panic doesn't load sand bags. Everyone in the lines at the filling stations and on the dikes themselves are spending their energy going shoulder to shoulder one bag at a time.
If there is a prayer, it probably would be for those who complain to understand this isn't about their trash or street not being cleaned off after the great snowfall. It is about being vigilant one more day, then one more day, one sand bag at a time. That's what the prayer is.
It is like having a sick child. Although we protect them as best we can, we are agog until the fever breaks. When they come into complete wellness, THEN we can breathe.
Vigilance. On guard. Waiting.
Thanks for listening.
e
The snow continues. The feel real temperature is minus 3. The wind is blowing. Sandbagging continues. Buses to carry people to sights are coming from all over, as are individuals. Two bodies equal four arms times thousands. It is more overwhelming to try to realize the amount of support for Fargo than it is to be overwhelmed by the water. Fargo is doing everything they can, with the support of family to family and group to group, and good communication.
The NDSU basketball players here in Fargo, played the Jayhawks from Lawrence, KS in March Madness last week. Those same players are now sand bagging. According to the article in the Lawrence Journal World, "This is a no-brainer for us,” said Saul Phillips, head basketball coach, in a statement. “People need help, and we’ve got able-bodied guys. Anybody that has been around our program knows how well the community supported us, and they need us now. They’ve got us.”
Dennis Walaker, our mayor, told the Salvation Army representative, That any time you see the Salvation Army and the Red Cross working side by side, we know it is a disaster." Yes, it is potentially that real.
Evacuation plans are laid. No matter where one lives in this huge area that has been affected know to move valuables to higher levels and shut off your water to save the laborious hours of cleaning the water system if it flows overland to your property. People who have sand bagged their homes are expected to watch their dikes and report seeping. Dumpsters with sand bags are near. Frozen sand bags, you ask? Drop the bag on the ground, the sand will break up.
It is all about family helping family and groups helping groups. Anytime you see Bison shirts and Fighting Sioux shirts working side by side, you know the people are coming together.
Fear may be a good motivate. Panic doesn't load sand bags. Everyone in the lines at the filling stations and on the dikes themselves are spending their energy going shoulder to shoulder one bag at a time.
If there is a prayer, it probably would be for those who complain to understand this isn't about their trash or street not being cleaned off after the great snowfall. It is about being vigilant one more day, then one more day, one sand bag at a time. That's what the prayer is.
It is like having a sick child. Although we protect them as best we can, we are agog until the fever breaks. When they come into complete wellness, THEN we can breathe.
Vigilance. On guard. Waiting.
Thanks for listening.
e
Thursday, April 2, 2009
FLOOD JOURNAL
24 MAR 2009
Snow and wind today. Water level is 35+. We hope for a crest below 42. Tom will fill bags again tonight. Baggers are supposed to call first.
Cars go by on our street through the slush left from sump pumps being run into the street. There won't be any street cleaning until the temorary dikes are finished. No trash pick up, either. Good we don't have a set of triplets with poopy diapers!
Although other cities may have water restrictions, Fargo does not. I am hopeful to get another load or two finished, including Tom's sand/mud jeans.
While out last night, he ran into Kaitlin and her mother. IMAGINE! 10,000 sand baggers and Tom meets his Monday night baggers! Don't you love it?
Better snow than rain.
Hugs
e
Snow and wind today. Water level is 35+. We hope for a crest below 42. Tom will fill bags again tonight. Baggers are supposed to call first.
Cars go by on our street through the slush left from sump pumps being run into the street. There won't be any street cleaning until the temorary dikes are finished. No trash pick up, either. Good we don't have a set of triplets with poopy diapers!
Although other cities may have water restrictions, Fargo does not. I am hopeful to get another load or two finished, including Tom's sand/mud jeans.
While out last night, he ran into Kaitlin and her mother. IMAGINE! 10,000 sand baggers and Tom meets his Monday night baggers! Don't you love it?
Better snow than rain.
Hugs
e
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
FLOOD JOURNAL
The next few days will be my flood journal while I get notes and equipment ready for a really, truly exciting genealogy adventure.
March 24
Fargo has several permanent dikes, just not all the way around the city. We have incredible support from the universities, National Guard, city crews, and plain old people like Tom who filled sand bags last night; first between a 14 year old and her mother and next between two 'convicts' from the Cass County jail. He was not out in the lightening and thunder but waited for the bus in the rain. His body was cold when he crawled into bed about 11 PM. I spooned in behind him and told him to keep talking about his experience until he felt sleepy, no doubt it was exhilarating to be part of the masses.
If humans can save a town, this group of organizers will make it happen. They have live new briefs throughout the day and those in charge update the rest as well as the city. Yesterday they hoped to fill 300,000 bags, because of the quality of the spirit in this town, they did 450,000. People are coming from all over. An NDSU representative, at the news brief, said college kids are coming from St. Cloud and other cities within 150 miles are on their way.
According to the ponding map, if the dikes break, we are safe here in 6th Avenue. That only means the house is okay, the infrastructure of the sewer system may still be compromised. Before that happens, however, they will shut it down.
One man, interviewed earlier in the week, dropped his sandwich he had gotten from the Red Cross. On a twisted note, doesn't that give new meaning to SANDwich?
In all the concern, there is much praise to all the folks that have come together for the common good. Tom's sister, in Grand Forks, offered us bed and board.
March 24
Fargo has several permanent dikes, just not all the way around the city. We have incredible support from the universities, National Guard, city crews, and plain old people like Tom who filled sand bags last night; first between a 14 year old and her mother and next between two 'convicts' from the Cass County jail. He was not out in the lightening and thunder but waited for the bus in the rain. His body was cold when he crawled into bed about 11 PM. I spooned in behind him and told him to keep talking about his experience until he felt sleepy, no doubt it was exhilarating to be part of the masses.
If humans can save a town, this group of organizers will make it happen. They have live new briefs throughout the day and those in charge update the rest as well as the city. Yesterday they hoped to fill 300,000 bags, because of the quality of the spirit in this town, they did 450,000. People are coming from all over. An NDSU representative, at the news brief, said college kids are coming from St. Cloud and other cities within 150 miles are on their way.
According to the ponding map, if the dikes break, we are safe here in 6th Avenue. That only means the house is okay, the infrastructure of the sewer system may still be compromised. Before that happens, however, they will shut it down.
One man, interviewed earlier in the week, dropped his sandwich he had gotten from the Red Cross. On a twisted note, doesn't that give new meaning to SANDwich?
In all the concern, there is much praise to all the folks that have come together for the common good. Tom's sister, in Grand Forks, offered us bed and board.
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