Announcements
Jennifer Emerling / There Is More Work To Be Done
Jennifer Emerling / There Is More Work To Be Done
Bismarck, ND Flooding Update from United Tribes Technical College
June 2, 2011 – We are now officially at flood stage along the Missouri River in Bismarck, North Dakota. Homes directly along the river or on river islands are now endangered and some are already experiencing flooding. Over 250 people have been displaced, and more will follow as the water rises. The water has reached 16 feet to a beginning flood stage at 1,637 feet at its deepest point in the reservoir. The flood gates at the Garrison Dam have been further opened and will continue to do so reaching some 120,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) by this weekend, and later 150,000 cfs.
The residents and other volunteers and city, state, N.D. Army Guard, and Corps of Engineers workers have been working night and day to build dikes and fill sandbags being put up around the city and at residences. Over ten miles of dikes or levees are being constructed to protect Bismarck and Mandan, both sitting on the edge of the Missouri. The crest of water will build and hit Bismarck next week. Meanwhile, over 10,000 residents have been evacuated at Minot, N.D. (nearly a third of the city) where flooding is taking place from the Souris River and tributaries.
Spillway releases at Garrison Dam have been increased to 105,000 cfs by Thursday.
Bismarck Mayor Warford and Mandan Mayor Helbling, along with N.D. Governor Dalrymple and North Dakota Adjutant General David Spryncynatyk, U.S. Corps officials and others have been holding daily news briefings for the public, aired over the local radio and television stations.
The objective locally is to fill another 4 million sandbags, in addition to the first 4 million already filled and distributed to homes and public areas. One of the main thoroughfares, Bismarck Expressway, has been blocked for strictly truck traffic hauling sand and dirt to emergency levee and dike sites on the west and southerly side of Bismarck. The hope is to complete most of these today and through the weekend to fight rising, incoming waters. North Dakota Army Guard members are throughout Bismarck, directing traffic and assuring that trucks can move to and from work points.
United Tribes is prepared and has set up a campus command center to coordinate all incoming requests from students and residents located in Bismarck-Mandan. The main campus is on high ground and is safe under projected conditions. To date, four student families and two staff families have been relocated on campus from their residences. We expect more as the tides of the flood rise. United Tribes Technical College has sent teams of staff and students to help with sandbagging. UTTC has stocked water, is securing more food stocks for a longer period of time, back-up supplies and other materials. The College is prepared to house 100 single persons along with families in both residential halls, houses and the main gymnasium and multipurpose center — all located on campus. We are seeking a larger, power generator in the event there is a power failure in the city and area.
Donations are welcome, particularly those in the form of checks or money orders.
All are welcome at United Tribes, but we are focusing on those residents who have little or no resources in the face of such emergencies–especially those who will be displaced from their homes. These include students and their families, staff and their families, others who are in public housing and any who need our help.
We are working closely with the mayors and the North Dakota Guard and law enforcement officials. The American Indian College Fund and others have reached out to us as we enter this disaster. Reports are that flooding will last all throughout June and July, before excess water from Montana and the reservoirs pass through.
We know our friends in Crow Country have had great difficulty, as well, and at five other TCU’s around the Nation. We wish all the best in safety and recovery.
Thank you, Pllamayepelo
United Tribes Technical College flooding webpage
City of Bismarck website providing further updates, access to maps and information