Friday, June 24, 2011

PRAIRIE TSUNAMI - MINOT NEEDS YOUR HELP


Flooded Minot neighborhood

The city of Minot, ND and the neighboring small town of Burlington have lost their fight with the Souris River. Some parts of Minot are now 8 feet under water, with more water rushing in. Minot sits in a natural bowl, and the bowl is filling rapidly. By tomorrow, the water is expected to be three metres, or 10 feet, above most city dikes. Because the water is rushing in so quickly, they are calling it a Prairie Tsunami.



Bridge at Burlington
Minot's primary levees have been overridden and the homes in the river's pathway are lost. The city is frantically trying to increase the height of those dikes hastily built to protect its infrastructure (sewer and water treatment plants) and the only north-south street through the city. The hospital is on a hill on the south side. If Broadway Avenue were to be breached, the city will be cut in half. People needing emergency treatment would have to travel 50 MILES to get to the other side.

The citizens of Minot urgently need your help with shelter and other immediate needs (because of the oil boom there are no apartments or motel rooms available) and with assistance of all kinds in the months to come.

To donate to the Minot (ND) Red Cross, go to http://minotredcross.org/ and go to "Click here to donate" on the right side of the screen.

To make a $10 donation to the Minot Salvation Army, text “MINOT” to 80888 and reply “yes” to the confirmation text. A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill.


Breached levee at Minot Country Club
Traffic backed up on the Highway 83
bypass as residents flee the city of Minot
Submerged car in Minot

Aerial photo of devastated Mouse
River Park north of Minot


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Update Monday, June 27: The Souris has crested at Minot but it will be several weeks before the water starts to go down. FEMA has decided they will give assistance to individual flood victims of Ward County (Minot and Burlington), Burleigh County (Bismarck) and Morton County (Mandan).

3 comments:

Denise said...

Thank you for letting us know.I hadn't heard about the flood.My prayers are with them.God bless you.I'll let my banker(Hubby)Know.He has a soft heart when it comes to helping out in tragic events.

Kath said...

Oh Julie, this is heart-breaking. My prayers go to these poor folks whose lives have been turned upside down x

Annie Jeffries said...

Dear Julie,

I was thinking of your today and though I know you are not in Minot, I pray for your safety as well. I recall the weather channel indicating that Bismarck was threatened as well.

(((Annie)))