A few days ago, our community learned that the plan to build a system of dikes to protect our neighborhoods had been scrapped. Government officials and the Corps of Engineers said it just wouldn't keep the water out.
So a handful of very motivated neighbors called in a private engineering firm to discuss a new plan. This plan entailed a several mile long dike to hold back the flow, clay "plugs" that would seal off the bays we live on from the main channel of the Missouri, and a "de-watering" system that would help reduce the impact of groundwater. The strategy would also protect the waste water treatment plant that serves our area. The project would take between 750,000 and 1 million sandbags to complete.
With the help of city officials, the National Guard, Corps of Engineers, construction companies from throughout the state and thousands of volunteers, the implementation of this plan has been underway for about 24 hours. The first of the bay "plugs" is being constructed, and there's cautious optimism about its success. The community and National Guard cranked out over 250,000 sandbags on Memorial Day. That could be enough to seal off the waste water plant, which is a top priority.
The hope is for the dike surrounding the area to be complete by Saturday.
We continue to persevere on the home front while spending as much time at "Sandbag Site #3" to contribute to the community good. Each household's part of the venture is 3000 sandbags. Mike and I can fill about 80 per hour.
We have moved everything out of our basement and virtually everything out of the main floor. Mike, Laif, Jim, Jeff and Josh came by yesterday to help us move the last of the big furniture into our trailer, and also pull up the carpet out of the basement. Things that were too heavy to move were put up on cinder blocks.
We plan to live on our third floor until we are told to evacuate, which we still believe is a strong possiblilty, despite the protective measures underway. There is no way of knowing how much water will be released from the dam in the end. It is raining cats and dogs in Montana, and the snowmelt really has only started.
Today we put a deposit on a rental house, so we will have a place to go when the time comes. We are incredibly lucky to have found it. And we can bring Daffodil and Sundance! That is a huge relief as their antics have helped us keep our chins up in the darkest moments. I can't imagine parting with them.
The water is rising (we are starting to see the impact of yesterday's increased flow). It is windy and dark outside, which makes everything seem so much worse.
Yesterday I signed us up for the Reverse 911 service so we'll get any emergency updates on our cell phones. A week ago, I did not even know such a thing existed.
Heartfelt thanks to all of you who have offered your support to us over the last few days. We have been truly touched by your concern and offers of help. Take care out there.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Bad news and good friends
Yesterday we learned that more water is coming. The earlier "longshot" forecast of 120,000 cfs flowing out of the Garrison dam became a reality -- the dam will open to this level on June 2. In addition, we can anticipate 150,000 cfs at some yet to be determined future date.
This news -- and its surrounding flock of rumors -- meant moments of dumbfounded panic which quickly turned into action. And, powered by the heartfelt concern, determination, and pure muscle of our friends, we have moved most of the furniture out of the first and second stories of our house, have a place to store it, and have a strong line on a temporary home.
The neighborhood is filled deep into the night with the sound of heavy equipment, the ever-widening puddles of water flowing out of sump pumps, and frightened faces everywhere.
Yesterday was filled with moments of truth:
I visited three separate sand bagging locations searching for a bale of loose bags (our neighbors shared a pile of sand that they'd had delivered with us). For several hours, the community was nearly "out." About 3 million bags have been filled, and this morning I heard the mayor say on the radio that another 3 are on their way.
I nearly lost my mind when I climbed the stepladder into the attic with my wedding dress over my arm and tucked it away.
A woman called into the radio station looking for help from someone who lives near the humane society on the north side of Mandan because they had been unable to cross town to feed the pets in the shelter.
Mike, Laif, Jeff, Barbara, Rick, Al, Diane and others shared their time, resources and connections to help us find solutions and get the work done. We can not say enough to thank you. The written word rarely fails me, but here I am.
I have added more photos here.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.229507787062822.76105.100000108077904#!/media/set/?set=a.229507787062822.76105.100000108077904
This news -- and its surrounding flock of rumors -- meant moments of dumbfounded panic which quickly turned into action. And, powered by the heartfelt concern, determination, and pure muscle of our friends, we have moved most of the furniture out of the first and second stories of our house, have a place to store it, and have a strong line on a temporary home.
The neighborhood is filled deep into the night with the sound of heavy equipment, the ever-widening puddles of water flowing out of sump pumps, and frightened faces everywhere.
Yesterday was filled with moments of truth:
I visited three separate sand bagging locations searching for a bale of loose bags (our neighbors shared a pile of sand that they'd had delivered with us). For several hours, the community was nearly "out." About 3 million bags have been filled, and this morning I heard the mayor say on the radio that another 3 are on their way.
I nearly lost my mind when I climbed the stepladder into the attic with my wedding dress over my arm and tucked it away.
A woman called into the radio station looking for help from someone who lives near the humane society on the north side of Mandan because they had been unable to cross town to feed the pets in the shelter.
Mike, Laif, Jeff, Barbara, Rick, Al, Diane and others shared their time, resources and connections to help us find solutions and get the work done. We can not say enough to thank you. The written word rarely fails me, but here I am.
I have added more photos here.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.229507787062822.76105.100000108077904#!/media/set/?set=a.229507787062822.76105.100000108077904
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Hoping and Coping
It wasn't long ago that we thought the protective mama goose nesting on our dock was the only thing standing between us and a good time on the Missouri River this summer.
That changed in a flash with announcements early last week that the Corps of Engineers planned to increase the flow from the upstream Garrison dam by over 50,000 cubic feet per second into the river, our town, and our backyard. Heavy snow pack, rain -- and perhaps a lack of perspicacity on the part of the Corps of Engineers -- backed the water up behind the dam with no where to go but here.
In the days that followed, the news worsened. The release will rise to 85,000 cubic feet per second on Monday, to 90,000 cfs on June 4, to 95,000 on June 6 and 100,000 on June 7. It could reportedly elevate to 120,000 cfs in time. The highest flow ever recorded in the past was 64,000 cfs.
Flood stage on the Missouri is 16 feet; at 100,000 cfs the river will rise over 18. Yesterday, the river level stood at 15.8 feet.
It has been inspiring to be part of a community that has united to plan, build, and tackle the incredibly hard physical labor together. Most people have been going to their jobs for a few hours each morning then joining crews to shore up the property of friends, relatives, and strangers. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to the team of Mike's colleagues who worked tirelessly with us on Thursday to help protect our home.
About a half dozen sandbag stations have been created by the National Guard where folks are shoveling scoop after scoop of sand into bags, hefting them onto trucks, driving them home and building walls.
Information flow is improving, though government officials are facing credibility issues because the news they share often changes, leading to scary rumors and false hopes. This is a "historic event" (floods are extremely rare here, and one of this magnitude has never been experienced) so we're all in uncharted territory, community leaders included.
We learned last night that a dike that had been planned to protect our neighborhood from the worst of the flow will not be built after all. This changes our mindset from "hey we could be OK" to "let's move everything our of the basement, come up with an evacuation plan, and try to figure out where we are going to live for the months it could take to recover from this if we have to leave it behind."
I have found that I cope best in this emergency when my hands are moving. Lifting a shovel, carrying a sandbag, pushing a wheelbarrow. It is difficult to concentrate on much else. Mike has been helping friends and colleagues every day, while also gearing us up with sump pumps, a generator, and doing the literal heavy lifting at our place.
Our neighborhood has come together in a collaborative and supportive spirit, and we have been heartened by everyone's generosity and guidance. Sherri, our friend who cares for our kittens when we travel and lives in a safe part of town, came by just to let us know that if we are forced to go, she will take our dear little Sundance and Daffodil into her home. This quiet comfort means the world.
Shelley from across the street made me laugh last night for the first time in days.
This post is getting long and it is starting to rain. I have added photos to my facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/krnmaria3#!/media/set/?set=a.229507787062822.76105.100000108077904 if you'd like to have a look. I will try to keep updating both here and there.
Meanwhile, I understand open water swim season starts this weekend in Seattle. Don't get me started.
That changed in a flash with announcements early last week that the Corps of Engineers planned to increase the flow from the upstream Garrison dam by over 50,000 cubic feet per second into the river, our town, and our backyard. Heavy snow pack, rain -- and perhaps a lack of perspicacity on the part of the Corps of Engineers -- backed the water up behind the dam with no where to go but here.
In the days that followed, the news worsened. The release will rise to 85,000 cubic feet per second on Monday, to 90,000 cfs on June 4, to 95,000 on June 6 and 100,000 on June 7. It could reportedly elevate to 120,000 cfs in time. The highest flow ever recorded in the past was 64,000 cfs.
Flood stage on the Missouri is 16 feet; at 100,000 cfs the river will rise over 18. Yesterday, the river level stood at 15.8 feet.
It has been inspiring to be part of a community that has united to plan, build, and tackle the incredibly hard physical labor together. Most people have been going to their jobs for a few hours each morning then joining crews to shore up the property of friends, relatives, and strangers. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to the team of Mike's colleagues who worked tirelessly with us on Thursday to help protect our home.
About a half dozen sandbag stations have been created by the National Guard where folks are shoveling scoop after scoop of sand into bags, hefting them onto trucks, driving them home and building walls.
Information flow is improving, though government officials are facing credibility issues because the news they share often changes, leading to scary rumors and false hopes. This is a "historic event" (floods are extremely rare here, and one of this magnitude has never been experienced) so we're all in uncharted territory, community leaders included.
We learned last night that a dike that had been planned to protect our neighborhood from the worst of the flow will not be built after all. This changes our mindset from "hey we could be OK" to "let's move everything our of the basement, come up with an evacuation plan, and try to figure out where we are going to live for the months it could take to recover from this if we have to leave it behind."
I have found that I cope best in this emergency when my hands are moving. Lifting a shovel, carrying a sandbag, pushing a wheelbarrow. It is difficult to concentrate on much else. Mike has been helping friends and colleagues every day, while also gearing us up with sump pumps, a generator, and doing the literal heavy lifting at our place.
Our neighborhood has come together in a collaborative and supportive spirit, and we have been heartened by everyone's generosity and guidance. Sherri, our friend who cares for our kittens when we travel and lives in a safe part of town, came by just to let us know that if we are forced to go, she will take our dear little Sundance and Daffodil into her home. This quiet comfort means the world.
Shelley from across the street made me laugh last night for the first time in days.
This post is getting long and it is starting to rain. I have added photos to my facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/krnmaria3#!/media/set/?set=a.229507787062822.76105.100000108077904 if you'd like to have a look. I will try to keep updating both here and there.
Meanwhile, I understand open water swim season starts this weekend in Seattle. Don't get me started.
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