The Flood of the Century

[WeRQ4U]

A discussion in another thread reminded me of this tragedy. I was a freshman at the University of North Dakota in 1997. That year we had 8 major blizzards, the last of which dumped freezing rain, 40 Mph winds and knocked out power to half the state. WHen all the snow melted, it overran the dikes built to protect the city from the river. Since the city laid on a paper-flat ancient lake bed, the water spread out and covered, literally COVERED the entire town.

Like the rest of my community, I sandbagged to try, unsuccessfully, and save homes along the dike. That friday, I had to leave and go to my home town. I felt so helpless leaving all those people. The day after the city was evacuated, the downtown started on fire. It roared through 11 or 12 buildings. The fire department couldn't get to them. They just burned. It was aweful. I remember sitting on my living room couch, crying my eyes out. In fact, I get a little teary thinking of it and looking at the photos today.

I just thought I would post a link to some pictures and information. It was truely a humbling experience. That community was so strong and inspiring. I'll never forget it.

http://www.geo.mtu.edu/department/classes/ge404/mlbroder/

Sorry if you're bored by it. I just though I would share.

[KitchenWitch]

1. I remember that

We also had floods here in the Twin Cities, not nearly as bad as Grand Forks, but I was in the hospital, across the river from where I lived and the roadway to the hospital was closed, so people had to drive about 40 miles out of the way to get to the hospital to visit me.

[WeRQ4U]

2. I think every city along a river experienced floods that year.

Grand Forks just saw the worst of it. Mainly becuase the Red Flows NORTH to Winnepeg. Therefore all of the other small creeks and tributaries flow INTO it and North past GF.

[LynzM]

3. Wow, dude

I have to admit to not paying attention to news that long ago :( Floods are some scary, amazing stuff. Water is so powerful... and carries such a capacity to destroy lives and property. Thanks for sharing...

[Dogmudgeon]

4. I sympathize

I live in a part of Bucks/Montgomery County, north of Philly, and we've had the Flood Of The Century three years out of the last six.

During one flood -- and this is spooky -- a friend of mine had to be rescued by boat, but even worse, the apartment I was going to rent was part of a building in the same complex that blew up after a gas main leak. That apartment was the final resting place of the couple who rented it after I decided not to move there because the neighbor (who also died in the blast) smoked so much.

The cops also found a huge amount of cash amidst the rubble. They theorize that another victim had hoarded the money, but they didn't really know. She was an elderly woman, and fit the stereotype.

I shook like a soaked Chihuahua after that little episode.

--p!
Yo quiero vivir.

[WeRQ4U]

5. Whoa.

That's eery. Glad you made it. That would spook me a bit too.

[Suich]

6. Wow! I watched the story whenever it was on the news.

Discovery has also had a couple of excellent programs. Glad to see the cities are rebuilding.

Thanks for the great link.

[WeRQ4U]

7. No problem. I actually can't believe it's been 8 years.

Time flies.