Friday, March 27, 2009

Update

We just received this note from friends:

HI Lynn,

This will be short as we are packing to leave. We heard from a state patrol officer that they may be or will (not sure) be evacuating the city of Fargo tonight. I also heard this from a friend who is sandbagging around their home right now. We will probably be going to some friends out near Casselton as getting across into Minnesota is difficult. Andrea will have her laptop, so we will try to keep you posted. Keep praying!

Please keep praying for the area!




Thursday, March 26, 2009

Sad Day for Fargo, ND

This is the latest news article from the Fargo newspaper (http://www.inforum.com/):

FLOOD UPDATE: Red River broke crest of 1997 flood at 7 p.m. tonight.
By: Patrick Springer, INFORUM

The Red River in Fargo-Moorhead now has reached 39.61 feet, edging past the 1997 crest of 39.57 feet.

That level was recorded at 7:15 p.m., the latest available.

Earlier today the National Weather Service revised its upper crest from 41 to 42 feet, with 43 feet possible, by Saturday.

The highest flood on record, in 1897, is 40.1 feet. The Red River in the metro area is expected to reach that milestone around midnight tonight.

"You're in uncharted territory, I guess," National Weather Service meteorologist John Hoppes said.

----------------------------------------------
We started receiving emails shortly after the news broke. Here is one:

The National Weather Service just issued a warning that the flood crest may go up an additional 1 to 2 feet!

I don't think they can hold this one---I'm heading for Bismarck.

Pray for the people of this region!


And another:

We can see the Red River coming from the east and the over land flooding from the west. With the new expected crest levels of 42-43 feet we have decided to send the women and children to higher ground. ___ and the children will go to ___'s parent's place in Mandan. They have already left. ____ is taking me to our dear friends, the ___'s. The men will return tonight to do what they can.

Please pray that we will be calm of spirit and that we will continue to place our complete trust in our dear Lord Jesus. It is likely that you will not hear from me for awhile. We appreciate your prayers and feel free to forward this email to others. Even so...we love you Lord Jesus and trust You to care for you little lambs.

With kind regards,


And one more:

Subject: Update

We just got the word they're now predicting a 42 foot crest. Since it's changed every day this week, I wouldn't be surprised if it goes higher. They're also saying the river is going to stay there for several days so the chance of a breach(es) is very high. 41 was my cut-off so I'm leaving for Minneapolis tomorrow. I just walked around the block and it's like a ghost town around here. My 91 year old neighbor left this afternoon, which was a huge relief. I really didn't want to go until I knew he would be safe. There aren't many people left on the block, it's very eerie. I'd go tonight but the roads are so bad because of all the snow we've had and it's still coming down.

____, I'm going to turn off the water and power before I leave. ____, I'm going to call you before I leave tomorrow so you can tell me what you want me to do at ____'s.

I'll be in Minneapolis (hopefully I can get there!) at my friend ____'s. My cell is ______, hers is _____.

____, let me know if they're sending ____ to Minneapolis. I talked to ____ and she'll be at the hospital if and when she gets there.

It seems so weird to be sending this message, I'm so sorry I won't be able to stay and watch the houses.

I'll e-mail you from ____'s when I get there. I'm going to disconnect my hard drive now.
--------------------------------

It's heart breaking. Please continue to pray for the area.

Another news article:

EVACUATION NOTICE: Moorhead residents between I-94 and 50th Avenue, west of 8th Street, directed to evacuate to higher ground

By: Dave Olson, INFORUM

MOORHEADMoorhead officials are directing that all residents who live between Interstate 94 and 50th Avenue South west of Eight Street to evacuate the area immediately.

Residents are being told to seek shelter with family or friends outside of the flood zone to conserve emergency resources.

A Red Cross public shelter is available at Moorhead High School, 2300 4th Ave. S.

Bring your identification and a seven- to 10-day supply of medications.

Bring baby supplies if you have an infant.

Pets will not be accepted at the Red Cross shelter. Animal shelter may be available at the Doggy Depot (3224 8th Street South, 218-236-DOGS) and the Mutt Hut (1214 Main Avenue, 218-236-9935).

Call ahead; please bring your animal’s food and health records. Pet shelter space is extremely limited, so please try to make accommodations with family or friends outside of the flood zone.

Once you are at a safe location, call (218) 477-4747 to register your home’s address and temporary location so emergency personnel and your family and friends can know you are safe and how to reach you.

If you need assistance with relocation, please call the relocation hotline (218) 477-4747.

If your family needs special assistance with relocation, you may also contact the Clay County Emergency Operations Center at 299-7768.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Fargo, ND Flood Update

Here's the latest from the Fargo newspaper (www.inforum.com):

Published March 25 2009
"It's time to get busy again:" Area flood-fight leaders plead for massive volunteer effort as crest level raised to 41 feetUPDATED 2:27 p.m.

By: Steven Wagner, INFORUM

UPDATED 2:27 p.m.

FARGO – Residents received a double dose of bad news this afternoon, as flood fight leaders pleaded for every possible volunteer to deliver time and energy to save Fargo and Moorhead before an unprecedented Red River crest reaches the metro area.

Precipitation overnight, with a combination of rain and 5 to 8 inches of snow, and a new 41-foot crest prediction have leaders taking several steps:

– Topping off existing 42-foot dikes with another foot of sandbags. Moorhead also plans to add another foot to its dikes.

– Contingency dikes being built to serve as backup protection to core city facilities and neighborhoods.

– Plans to hold neighborhood meetings to gather residents to inform them about plans.

– Discussion of an evacuation plan that will be announced in detail Thursday.

– Warnings of arrest and jail for those who climb on top of dikes.

– A plea for people to keep vehicles out of work zone areas as parking and congestion have impeded emergency flood-fighting efforts.

“It’s time to get busy again,” City Commissioner Tim Mahoney said.
He urged people to go to the Assembly of God church or the Fargodome immediately to start working.

“We need to put another foot on top of the dikes,” he said. “Everyone needs to get involved for next 48 hours.”

Mahoney said the city needs to do 500,000 sandbags each day.

“Are we confident that we are going to beat this? Yes we are,” Mahoney said. “I need another 48 hours of hard work of people working together.”
He added that neighbors need to check on each other and pitch in to build up the dikes.

The latest Red River crest prediction, released about noon to the public, is 41 feet Saturday in Fargo.

“We’re not talking about doom or failure of the dikes,” Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker said. “We’re really just down to a time crunch.”

Previously, the National Weather Service predicted a range of 39 to 41 feet this weekend, with 40 feet the anticipated crest.

Severe overland flooding and record levels on the Wild Rice River, which feeds the Red River south of Fargo, prompted the latest prediction.

Commissioners are meeting at 5 p.m. to discuss the flood.

Fargo Police Chief Keith Ternes said people climbing onto dikes to look at the river have been an ongoing problem.

“We are done asking people to stay out of those areas,” Ternes said. “We will be making arrests and people will be going to jail.”

He also urged volunteers to use the mass transit system being used to shuttle sandbaggers to work areas.

Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney said emergency crews had made 11 rescues by 1:30 p.m., helping 20 people and a number of animals from the rising flood waters.

The county is delivering sandbags to Forest River and Chrisan Way for those homeowners who think they can still beat the flood. Trucks are delivering the sand today and offering up the sandbags on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The county, along with other federal agencies, started water patrols this morning.

Laney said that anyone who wants to be rescued needs to pack light, gather their family members and leave when the boats arrive.

“We’ve had people ask us to come back in an hour,” Laney said. “I don’t know if we can come back in an hour.”

He warned that people should not wait until night fall, as rescue operations are life or death in the dark.

“If you know you have to get out, get out before tonight,” he said.

In some cases, water is lapping within inches of dikes in rural areas.
“It’s time to get out,” Laney said.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Flooding and Now This

North Dakota needs your prayers:

STRONG WINTER STORM TO CAUSE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS IN NORTH DAKOTA TODAY & TUESDAY. A POTENT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER NORTHEASTERN COLORADO AND WESTERN NEBRASKA THIS MORNING IS FORECAST TO SWEEP INTO EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA BY TUES MORNING. RAIN SHOWERS & THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY, WITH A CHANGE OVER TO ALL SNOW THIS MORNING IN THE WEST & LATE TONIGHT IN PORTIONS OF CNTL NORTH DAKOTA. STRONG NORTHWESTERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY THE PRECIPITATION, RESULTING IN QUICKLY FALLING VISIBILITIES WHEN CHANGE OVER TO SNOW OCCURS ESPECIALLY IN HEAVIER SNOW BANDS. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP WITH VISIBILITIES NEAR ZERO AT TIMES.

[Below is what our area is forecasted: ]

BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 7 PM CDT TUESDAY. A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 7 PM CDT TUESDAY. EXPECT NW WINDS OF 20 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH ALONG WITH HEAVY SNOW, RESULTING IN BLOWING SNOW & VISIBILITIES NEAR ZERO AT TIMES. A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING & BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS, MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IFYOU MUST TRAVEL, HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED, STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

Jim just returned yesterday from the ND Home School Convention, and now has to leave this afternoon for Bismarck to testify on behalf of the homeschool bill that is before a committee hearing on Wed. He needs to head out before the storm hits.

On top of this, we can't get our car into the driveway, as yesterday we had lots of rain and terrible winds -- enough that the tarpaper was ripped from the roof of our newer barn. The driveway is a sea of mud and ice, so this morning we walked down to unpack what was taken to the convention and this afternoon will walk Jim's stuff back down to the car so he can leave from there.

The worst part is our former city of Fargo, and also Moorhead, MN are in imminent danger from flooding. This involves flooding of the Red River and also overland flooding from the rain melting snow and the ground is still frozen so nothing is seeping in. When we lived in Fargo back in 1997 there was also a terrible flood, which peaked at 37 feet. This year the prediction is now for the water level to peak on Thursday at 41 feet or more. We have friends who are preparing for evacuation and are in the process of hauling everything near and dear up from their basement. This is happening all over the city.

Here is an article from today's Fargo newspaper: www.inforum.com

FROM BAD TO WORSE: Forecast flood crest earlier, higher than first thought F-M area steps up efforts upon hearing newsFargo-Moorhead and surrounding areas were inundated with bad news Sunday with a new predicted Red River flood crest that now could reach 39 to 41 feet and arrive as early as Friday – a foot higher and day earlier than originally forecast.
By: Patrick Springer, INFORUM

The Red River barely skims the deck bottom of Fargo’s North Broadway Bridge on Sunday afternoon. The bridge was later closed.

Fargo-Moorhead and surrounding areas were inundated with bad news Sunday with a new predicted Red River flood crest that now could reach 39 to 41 feet and arrive as early as Friday – a foot higher and day earlier than originally forecast.

Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker pleaded for stepped-up volunteer efforts as the city races to prepare for a flood that now appears likely to surpass the flood of 1997, which crested at 39.57 feet.

The worst recorded flood in Fargo’s history was 1897, when the Red River climbed to 40.1 feet.

“Volunteers – it’s time to take this thing seriously,” Walaker said in a news conference Sunday afternoon, as a light rain began falling – the beginning of several days of forecast heavy rains falling on ground already saturated from fall rains and a sudden spring thaw.

To handle the higher crest, the number of sandbags needed to protect Fargo has jumped to 2 million – a daunting task given the next couple of days of rains turning to snow expected to hamper efforts at a critical time.
The higher projected river levels also mean more Fargo neighborhoods will be threatened and will require protection, in most cases a layer or two of sandbags, city officials said.

Engineers on Monday will issue a list of threatened neighborhoods in addition to the approximately 13 originally slated for protection.
The most immediate focus in Fargo: neighborhoods along the river between 32nd and 40th avenues south, an area that will require an estimated 350,000 sandbags.

“Our first line of protection is along the river,” Walaker said. Truckloads of sandbags began pouring into southernmost Fargo Sunday.

Besides the ongoing plea for volunteers, city officials made multiple appeals for residents to cooperate, including a request for gawkers to stay away from areas near the river or areas where dikes or sandbagging operations are under way.

Issues area officials addressed Sunday:

A major concern is traffic that will intensify today as thousands of people return to work. Police Chief Keith Ternes urged motorists to choose north-south routes as far from the river as possible and to use Interstates 29 and 94, if possible.

Code Red alerts will be broadcast via telephone to areas of town that are not threatened, with a request that neighbors walk to nearby areas to help in sandbagging.

Worsening weather conditions, with heavy rains turning to snow, will compound an already daunting task of protecting the city.

“What’s scary right now is the weather,” Walaker said, noting that the city’s past flood fights generally occurred in favorable weather.

Conditions will become especially difficult after temperatures fall below freezing Tuesday and Wednesday, making sandbags rigid and resulting in a porous barrier.

“You can’t place frozen sandbags,” Walaker said.

Despite the mounting challenges, the mayor said he remains “cautiously optimistic” the area will be able to beat the flood, as it has in many years past.

He estimated earthen dikes were mostly complete late Sunday, with some nearly complete. The higher crest, however, means dikes now must be raised another foot or so.

Still, the mayor said contingency plans are being made for an evacuation, in the event that becomes necessary, and people should take precautions, including moving valuable possessions upstairs.

One fear, Walaker said, is that the Sheyenne and Wild Rice rivers will flood overland and merge with the Red River – a confluence of water several miles wide that would have to make its way through the narrow funnel formed by levees in Fargo and Moorhead.

“It’s like an hour-glass that we’re forcing all this water through,” city manager Pat Zavoral said.

Officials emphasized, however, that the focus remains doing everything possible to beat the flood, and urged people to redouble their efforts.
City officials have been notified that at least 25 employers are releasing their employees to join the flood fight, along with Cass County Jail inmates, North Dakota State University football players, and public school students in grades 9 through 12.

Police are escorting trucks delivering sandbags, and people are urged to go to staging areas and take shuttle buses to the sandbag barricades.

“What we want to do is avoid any kind of chaos,” Walaker said. “To win this battle, we need your help, even more so.”

Friday, March 13, 2009

What's Been Happening

We've finally been having nice weather and the snow is melting. I can sense the anticipation of another busy growing season.

A couple weeks ago the boys started tomato, onion and pepper seeds. I've been amazed at how quickly they germinated, and today Peter and Jonathan transplanted tomato seedlings into individual cell packs. We purchased our seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and are very happy with the results so far.

Our wood pile shrunk quickly this winter, due to all the very cold weather we've experienced. It has been necessary to add to the pile of logs for our wood stove, so the past couple of afternoons Jim and the boys were out cutting up downed trees. Hopefully their efforts will keep our wood stove happy for the duration of what's left of winter.

Approximately three weeks ago we called a couple that lives in the area to see if they would artificially inseminate our Jersey heifer. It was a bit tough to tell if Sandy was in heat, but when she showed some of the signs we went ahead and had the procedure done. Apparently the timing wasn't correct or something didn't go as planned, as today the signs were undeniable that Sandy was once again in heat.


Jim called the couple once again, and tonight the procedure was performed on Sandy. My job was to heat extra water on the stove to 95 degrees; a bit tough to do when the thermometer was just about impossible to read! We really need to purchase a digital one, so bifocal impaired people like me can even read the numbers! By the time I had the water where I wanted it, the event was over and everyone was heading back to the house. Oh well, I viewed the procedure last time, and there really wasn't much to see. Hopefully this time it worked.

Last night someone called about 9:00, and while I was visiting on the phone it suddenly seemed as if a skunk had sprayed the house! I quickly cut short the conversation as the boys jumped out of bed and went running to the door. Jonathan grabbed the shotgun and a flashlight and headed outside.
I don't know exactly what happened, but JP, our big tomcat, had been sprayed at point blank range by a skunk! The poor cat was running around in a frenzy, trying desperately to shake the spray from his face. We didn't know if the skunk was right outside or not, but Jonathan and Jim went out to check. They didn't find anything and JP settled down a bit. The other cats were very curious, and one by one came up to him to take a whiff. I don't know why, but he chose to sit right by the side of the door.


We had an experience a few years ago when two of our cats ended up in the waste oil bucket and were soaked in oil. We were able to give our female cat a bath and got the bulk of the oil out of her hair, but when we tried to do the same with the male he tried to bite Peter and me, so we had to let him outside and fend for himself. It was amazing how quickly he was able to clean the mess from his own hair.

By morning JP smelled a whole lot better. I caught sight of one of the female cats licking his face, and felt a bit sick at the thought of what she was ingesting. Guess it worked for them!

There's never a dull moment around here!


Monday, March 09, 2009

Spring is Almost Here -- Maybe Not

Our family has been busy with thoughts of spring and preparations for what we need to do. Some of our seeds are planted, and Jim has been thinking a lot about bees. Last year we were too late in ordering bees so had to forgo the season, but this year Jim is determined to give it another try.

Yesterday Jim asked me to wash his bee suit. He read somewhere that if there is any residue of dead bees on the suit it will make the new bees think he is showing aggression. Without thinking too much about it, I washed the jumpsuit and gloves in the washing machine. Oops. When I took out the suit I happened to read the instructions on the tag, and it told me to hand wash the items. I sure hope I didn't do any damage to it, as we certainly don't want to purchase another one.

I was dismayed to discover one of the gloves is torn in a couple of areas where the mesh meets the glove portion. I hope I can repair it well enough so they don't provide access for bees to Jim's arms and hands. The bottom of the washer had residue of chunks of rubber or plastic, and I have a feeling I washed out the coating from the inside of the gloves. I think I need to call a friend that does beekeeping to see if that's a bad thing, and if we should invest in a new pair.

Thankfully I soaked the head covering in a bucket of soapy water, so it is in good shape. Guess I better start reading labels before I attempt to clean something for the first time.

All day we've been receiving warnings of impending storms for the state. Jim is supposed to head out very early tomorrow for legislative hearings down in Bismarck, and we'll see if he can even get out of the driveway:

WINTER STORM TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF WESTERN & CNTL NORTH DAKOTA MON. THROUGH TUESDAY. A BAND OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOWFALL CONTINUES ACROSS FROM FAR SOUTH CNTL NO. DAKOTA & INTO THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY. TWO TO FOUR INCHES OF NEW SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS BAND BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON IN THE AFOREMENTIONED AREAS. FORECAST NORTHERLY WINDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH WILL CAUSE AREAS OF BLOWING & DRIFTING SNOW TODAY ACROSS S. NO. DAKOTA, FURTHER REDUCING VISIBILITIES & CAUSING ROADWAYS TO BECOME SLIPPERY.

A SECOND & HEAVIER AREA OF SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN & CNTL NO. DAKOTA TONIGHT & CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY. STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS FROM MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUES. WILL POSSIBLY REACH 7 TO 10 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ALONG & SO. OF A LINE FROM HETTINGER TO CARRINGTON, 3 TO 7 INCHES ALONG & 30 MILES TO EITHER SIDE OF A LINE FROM BOWMAN THROUGH FESSENDEN, INCLUDING MANDAN AND BISMARCK. SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS WILL SLOWLY DECREASE FURTHER NORTH OF THIS LINE, WITH LESS THAN ONE INCH EXPECTED IN NORTHWEST ND. SOME FORECAST UNCERTAINTY STILL REMAINS, SO THE AXIS OF HEAVIEST SNOW COULD SHIFT FROM THE CURRENT FORECAST.WINDS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT & INTO TUES. ACROSS WESTERN AND CNTL NO. DAKOTA, POTENTIALLY CREATING SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF BLOWING & DRIFTING SNOW WITH HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE TUES. ACROSS SE NORTH DAKOTA, INCLUDING JAMESTOWN, ASHLEY & ELLENDALE.

FURTHERMORE,VERY COLD TEMPS COMBINED WITH STRONG WINDS ARE FORECAST TO CAUSE WIND CHILL VALUES TO FALL TO 30 TO 45 BELOW MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUES. ACROSS WESTERN & CNTL NO. DAKOTA. SEE THE LATEST FORECAST UPDATES FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS DEVELOPING WINTER STORM.

I feel for our animals. It's been warm at times, and so they are starting to shed. This very cold weather can be quite a shock to their systems. I'm thankful our goats won't be kidding until at least April.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Starting Seeds

We still have drifts and banks like this on our farmstead, and it's a bit tough to think about starting seeds.

Below is a photo looking down towards the end of our driveway:


However, we did start seeds last Saturday. I think the boys planted tomatoes, onions, green pepper, and I can't remember what else. We'll do more in a month. We'll keep them here until the seeds germinate, and then bring them over to a friend's place that has some very wonderful southern exposure windows. I look forward to the day we can do seeds from start to finish over here, but at the moment we don't have windows that are helpful for that purpose.

Jonathan has just completed his first flat of seedlings, and Jim in the background is managing the process by entering the information on his spreadsheet. (I was busy making bread!)

On Sunday we had a surprise visit from our friend Steve Schadler (Mountain Fire Keeper). He had just been to Fargo and purchased vegetable and flower seeds in bulk, and offered some to us. We spent a fun afternoon getting excited about gardening as we decided what and how much to purchase from Steve. He does a good job of showing up when we need a bit of a boost in getting going and also answering questions for us. I guess he will be coming back for the summer to finish up landscaping projects he has committed to doing here in the hills, and we look forward to having more times of fellowship with him.


I just heard yesterday that someone is predicting a cold, wet summer for us, and that is not what I wanted to hear. We'll see what happens.