Word(s) of the Day: Sand and Volunteers. Today the word again comes from Bob Zimmerman in the Technical/Zone Leader Meeting this morning.  Today is a day when many volunteers will be needed to fill and place sandbags and construct sandbag dikes for the crest now expected to happen Saturday, March 20, 2010.  Many students from the area schools are getting out today to help.  Thank a student when you get a chance, my eyes water often when I think of how the students save us in flood events.

Thank a Student Please: Concordia College let their students off today to help sandbag (Kevin, my number 3 son goes to Concordia).  President Pam Jolicoeur spoke at the press conference this morning at 10 a.m. along with Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) President Edna Szymanski and Moorhead Public School’s Superintendent Lynn Kovash about the students that have helped our communities through floods for over a hundred years.

Quote of the Day: “Concordia students are up here saving us again this year”, Moorhead Public Service Commission President Ken Norman told me this today when I was in North Moorhead assessing the flood work that happening to prepare for the 38 foot crest.  Ken had high praise for the students.  (Again, thank a student when you get a chance – what great community service for a young person – and it is so needed and appreciated.)  MSUM Professor George Davis said he was sore today working along side Concordia students this morning but said 20 year old backs work much better than 60 year old ones and graciously thanked the students at Moorhead Rotary today.

Pictures of the Day: “I picked these as I think it says it all the students of the community steeped up to the plate to do the lions share of the work today with their perseverance we made great strides in reaching our goals for the day in constructing sandbags…people can say what they want to about kids and particularly students but these photos say it all on the good kids we have here in our community as residents and student….god bless them” Joel Hewitt, Chief, Moorhead Fire Department emailed me today. (See picture of students sandbagging).

In addition, I placed photos of our very strong and good looking MPS employees sandbagging the River Pumping Station today.  The River Pumping Station is our most vulnerable asset and we have sandbagged it in numerous floods over the years.  I also attached a photo of me providing information at the 10 a.m. Press Conference today (See below for details).

Rotary Song of the Day “I’ve Been Working  on the Sandbags”: Moorhead Rotarian Jerry Luther a couple of weeks ago challenged me to come up with a song about the flood.  Jerry and I actually worked on it over lunch a couple of weeks ago.  Today it was 11:30 a.m. and I thought it is time for Rotary and I can still make it.  I was working on a press release with MPS Administrative Assistant Casey Serocki when I said, “Go to the Internet and pull up the words for “I’ve been working on the railroad”.  Casey did and five minutes later we created the “Song of the Day” at Rotary (If you haven’t figured it out I’m the song-leader for the Moorhead Rotary J).  Seriously, it only took us five minutes:

I've Been Working on the Sandbags

March 16, 2010

Moorhead-Fargo 2010 Spring Flood

I've been workin' on the sandbags,
All the live long day.
I've been workin' on the sandbags,
And not just to pass the time away.
Don't you hear the whistle blowing?
Rise up so early in the morn.
Don't you hear the captain shouting
"Volunteers, fill your bags?"

Volunteers, won't you fill,
Volunteers, won't you throw,
Volunteers, won't you place your bag?
Volunteers, won't you fill,
Volunteers, won't you throw,
Volunteers, won't you place your bag?

Someone's filling sandbags for Moorhead.
Someone's filling sandbags for Fargo.
Someone's filling sandbags for Moorhead
Holding back the Red River flow.

Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o.
Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o-o-o-o.
Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o.
Filling up lots of sandbags-o.

Current River Level (and Current National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast):

• The current river level is 29.1 feet at 8:15 pm today (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)
• The previous river level was 25.93 feet at 6:15 pm yesterday (Monday, March 15, 2010)
• The current NWS forecast remains at 38 feet cresting Saturday (moved back ½ day)
• Nancy Lund, MPS Administration and Finance Director attended the 1:30 p.m. NWS briefing while she staffed the EOC today and sent this update: “The briefing reviewed the weather forecast for the next few days.  Highs near 50 Wed/Thurs, with overnight lows below freezing.  Possibility of precip on Friday. RR Wahpeton has crested and should decline slightly for a few days before cresting a 2nd time later this week.  RR Fargo is still expected to crest between 37-39 on the 21st or 22nd.”

Press Conference/Press Releases; Take care of them as they come: Just do them as they come – I was asked last night at about 9:00 pm if I could provide information about our water and electric services during the flood of 2010.  I spoke at the regularly scheduled press conference, the topics were:

1. Water Issues:
   1. Taste and Odor – we are currently dealing with taste and odor issues in the drinking water.  It is decaying vegetation from many crops left in the fields when it was so wet last fall.  It happens every few years.  We switch to 50 percent river and 50 percent wells.  It is safe to drink.
   2. As the end of the week approaches, please conserve water.
2. Electric Issues:
   1. MPS will not interrupt electricity unless we absolutely have to.  I held up our bill insert that was sent out this last month to all residents (it is also on our website).  Electricity is critical to run sump pumps.
   2. Be safe – get safety info from our website, including generators for homes and their operation.
3. How to contact us or get information:
   1. Call 218.299.5300 for flood related information, even electric and water information.  We are helping the city staff the call center (5300) and will have information.  They would like as much City of Moorhead information as possible to go out on that number.
   2. Call 218.299.5400 if you have an electrical outage.  They can call 5300 as well but 5400 will ensure the fastest response.

We also sent the following press releases today (attached):

o        MPS Resolving Taste and Odor Issues from the Red River

o        Power Outage affects 95 Customers

o        Important Information From MPS for a Flood Event

New City of Moorhead Flood Website: Check the new website out at www.cityofmoorhead.com/flood

Public, Emotional, and Behavioral Health Information From Clay County: Kathy McKay, Public Health, and Rhonda Porter, Social Services spoke at the press conference about information available for medical, emotional, and behavioral health during a disaster event, always great information, it is stressful, I can tell.  Go to the Clay County Website www.co.clay.mn.us and check under “Public Health” and “Social Services” for a lot of information.  For a hotline for emotional and behavioral support, you can call First Link at 235.7335 (SEEK).