Re: GEN: Grand Forks flood

[Gleason Sackman <gleason@RRNET.COM>]

Just a quick note:

You can obtain additional details at:

http://www.fargoweb/flood/
http://www.fargoweb/kfgo/
http://www.in-forum.com/

<Gleason>

At 09:30 PM 4/21/97 -0500, you wrote:
>By now, I'm sure most of you have heard about the terrible situation in
>Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota, as the Red
>River of the North continues to rise and flood these cities.  As a graduate
>of UND and former employee of the public library, and with family and
>friends still there, I am keeping close watch of the devastation of the
>flood waters first, and then the fires that destroyed much of the downtown
>area.
>
>I won't repeat what you can see and hear on the news, but I will try to
>address one of the thoughts that natuarally comes to our minds:  the
>libraries.  The information I have is sketchy, mostly shaped from
>conversations with my parents, who live near Grand Forks and my brother,
>who left the city early Saturday morning.  I would be grateful if others
>with more information would keep me up-to-date on the happenings there, as
>well as correcting any erronious information I may have.
>
>As of yesterday, about three-quarters of Grand Forks was under mandatory
>evacuation.  From the description my mom gave of this zone, all but two of
>Grand Forks' schools were in there.  Several of the elementaries and junior
>highs are within just a few blocks of the river when it is in its banks.
>Central High School is one block up from where the fires began, and
>adjacent to City Hall, if you have seen that on the news.  Central's
>library is on the second floor of the building, so as far as libraries go,
>it may be in better shape than the others.
>
>My brother told me on Saturday that Library Circle, where the public
>library is located, was flooded.  I don't know much more than that.
>
>The University of North Dakota was canceled for the semester, but
>volunteers were called back yesterday to help move records and other
>important things up to higher ground.  The Grand Forks Herald, which lost
>its newsroom, circulation department, and all of its archives, has
>relocated to a school a few miles out of town and is continuing to keep up
>its excellent web site.  The main site is http://www.gfherald.com, and an
>account of the work done at the UND library can be found at
>http://www.gfherald.com/news/local/421fritz.htm.
>
>One of the few bright spots in all of this is that I have not yet heard of
>any loss of life due to the flood.
>
>Again, the information I have comes mostly from conversations with family
>and friends, and information pieced together from the Herald and local and
>national news accounts, as well as my familiarity with the area.  I would
>greatly appreciate any additional information any of you might have.
>
>They are saying it will be a week before the water goes down, and 2-3 weeks
>before people can return home.  This is an entire city with enormous
>devastation.  I am trying to think of ways that I can help, and so far have
>not had any great ideas.  I have considered driving the 10 hours home for
>on weekends to help clean up once that help is needed.  Perhaps there is
>not a lot we can do right now besides keep these people in our thoughts and
>prayers, but I would be willing to spearhead or contribute to any efforts
>that we can make to assist the people of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks
>as they return to their homes and try to rebuild their lives.
>
>Linda Wolfgram
>Media Specialist
>Benton Community Middle/High School
>Van Horne, IA
>
>
>
>Linda Wolfgram, Media Specialist                lwolfgram@benton.k12.ia.us
>Benton Community Middle/High School
>Van Horne, Iowa                                         AASL KidsConnect
>Volunteer
>
>