CNN iReport - Fargo Flood Fight 2009

[mrflipz619]

H.A.A.R.P?????????

[samten10a]

Floods are getting worse all the time why? A big part is the farmers and all the ditching they do. after 1970 when every farmer bought big horse power equipment. They now have the tools to fill and drain every swamp and large pot hole on THEIR land.

[samten10a]

When doing that in the spring it sends all the water to the rivers in days instead weeks like before. That is why the floods higher then before 1970. Nobody will hold the farmers accountable or water shed board accountable for causing the destruction.

[wfgolfer96]

For more of the flood videos go to my youtube page and look at my playlists. overall, everyone in the area is doing there part, EVERYONE!

[nicolebailey1]

that first ? is supposed to be a !

[dirkmonson]

Haha, gotcha. I know how you feel, though. I couldn't believe how much sandbagging had to be done down in Oak Creek and Rose Creek....some of thoses houses literally had a 4-5 foot wall of sandbags behind them. Looks like everyone came out okay - this time.

[nicolebailey1]

I'm a college student from Moorhead, and I've noticed that some of the news reports are a little stretched.. two feet in two hours?? I never heard that..

[dirkmonson]

Yeah, the news did take things out of context. However, we weren't sandbagging the Red River. We were on the Apple Creek coulee area where water was actually much, much faster than the Red River.

[nicolebailey1]

That makes sense? So the Apple Creek is what runs by the Oak Creek neighborhood? I was sandbagging there all day Tuesday, at a blue house to the south. My wrists are STILL sore!!

[kvhansel]

I'm tired from sandbagging, but everyone hang in there! It will be over soon.

[FargoxMSUM]

I feel you kv. My back is toast

[audgeyp]

These "iReporters" are so laughable. Just because you take 20 seconds of shitty video and have access to a computer doesn't make you Tom Brokaw. It's an abuse of the word reporter, someone who actually has journalistic skills.

At any rate, I do hope these people will be ok. Shouldn't the national guard be helping out or something?

[dirkmonson]

Audgeyp,

Thanks for the sarcasm - I never claimed to be a reporter. That's the term CNN uses, I prefer eyewitness or firsthand account, but that doesn't sell advertising.

The whole point of the video was to get some exposure for Fargo, not win a Peabody Award. And we'll all be fine up here - we take care of each other.

[audgeyp]

Hi dirkmonson. I didn't meant to insult you personally. (I didn't even watch this segment the way through). I just wish CNN would call it something else. "iVideo" maybe?

Well, hope everything will be all right up there!

[dirkmonson]

I'm sorry I took it the wrong way - it's been a long week! Though, I do agree with the CNN iReporter name needing a change. iVideo makes more sense to me.

[audgeyp]

No worries, I can only imagine the week all of you've had!

I'm sorry, too. 

Take care!

[fratguy1592]

The National Guard is helping out. There are over 1800 members of the North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota National Guard deployed throughout the Fargo-Moorhead area. They supervised much of the sandbagging operation, setup security checkpoints, patrolled dikes, evacuated flooded homes and provided a quick reaction force in case a large levee breach were to occur.

[audgeyp]

Oh, I hadn't realized that! Whenever I saw Fargo on the news, they only showed residents making sandbags and stuff, never anyone else. They now say the river isn't going to crest as high as previously thought. Hope that's true.

[tookfirst]

PLEASE READ > a black church in Chicago last summer sent a busload of its young black men to help clear debris for the flood victims in Iowa, so YES there are examples of "them" helping us.  I'm a white man and don't attend this church but it was Westlawn Gospel church on 2100 S St Louis St, Pastor Derrick Rollers organized the effort to go help

[FargoxMSUM]

Places needing help sandbagging

2401 river drive n mhd

1104 7th ave s mhd

old dilworth walmart 1711 Hwy 10 West, Dilworth

free childcare # 701 280 1775

[FargoxMSUM]

That's nice. Not really what this video or people here are focused on right now. A little busy with a more important crisis. Politics won't kill anyone this issue could so please take it somewhere else.

[FargoxMSUM]

So I overslept today did they announce they needed more sandbagging volunteers today? They said it would be announced through the media. If anyone heard please let me know thanks.

[Jez56560]

You know, one thing that I do have to say about this area is that no matter what the disaster, no matter what the problem, whether big or small, we always pull through for our neighbors. I have heard some say that we are not very friendly here, but when one or more of our own is in danger or in need, we jump to the aid. Now hopefully after this is all said and done our mayors can figure out a way so this doesn't happen again... and get some well deserved rest... just like all the volunteers!

[JannaHawkins]

Keep on fighting, Fargo! We can do it!!! :)

[FargoxMSUM]

I helped evacuees after katrina and have yet to see the favor returned. Supposing they're all busy but hey. I did my part I don't need anything in return. Please continue to have faith. I am thinking and praying things may not be as bad as originally predicted. We did a lot of hard work and it will count for something. No matter what happens know it would've been twice as bad without our efforts. I've never felt so good about being sore almost to immobilization. My sore back makes me smile :)

[CorJesu]

And to you poor people who can seem to do nothing but say stupid things about those of us who live here, perhaps you would rather the disaster was happening in YOUR towns and YOUR homes were in danger.! But, then you would probably be upset to see people from this "useless" part of the country coming to help you out. Because, you see, WE WOULD DO IT ANYWAY! We know that most people would be grateful for the help.

There will always be a few disgruntled folks who are never happy or satisfied.

[woodencoasterfan]

Ya know, I was listening to the Ed Shultz program on SIRIUS Satelite Radio a couple of days ago when he said the news stations just about got on their knees and asked everyone to help. It's now obvious that the memories of New Orleans during Katrina and the flooding and subsequent burning of East Grand Forks, MN during the flood of 1997 are still fresh in your memories. I hope and pray all your efforts are not in vain. Also, what a great show of comunity effort.

[CorJesu]

I am so proud of the people in this area and our determination to do whatever we can to save all the affected communities from this flood. It is so heart-warming to see how people from everywhere are coming to help us out, as well--just as people from this part of the country have gone to help anywhere else in the country where there is a disaster and volunteers are needed!! Many, many thanks to EVERYONE who has volunteered!!

[Brittalee44]

I am proud and honored to live in the F-M Area!! A Blizzard while being outside for hours to sand bag for a flood.. A community has truely come together to fight this flood.. and its a battle we are going to come out victorious!! My prayers are with everyone near the river!! I'm in the "white" section aka: the high section of Fargo, so I'm praying for you all!! Lets win this battle together!!! Like I said.. I'm proud to be a part of this GREAT COMMUNITY!!

[jmesselt]

Sorry, my last reply was in response to metaspore. Not sure someone could be more clueless. Mommy must not have given him many hugs as a child or something.

From metaspore --

"Reply | Spam REALLY? "Down without a fight"!"

Come on, its a spring flood. All you will lose is some over-priced McMansions in a desolate, useless part of the country.

Lets not make this an EPIC situation. Its a spring flood.

A time where poor people come out to save the wealthy peoples homes."

[hunter200524]

do you think the water just magicly stops after the rich peoples houses? Were you dropped on your head when you were a kid. Well one good thing about this flood is it'll keep out all the dumbasses.

Useless part of the country? you realize north dakota is one of the largest suppliers of wheat. Bet you didnt know that microsoft has a lot of employees here. They build case tractors in fargo. whatever just stay where you are. we dont want you here

[nicolebailey1]

wow.. Oxbow, a small town about 15 miles south of fargo was lost a few days ago. They said they would be lucky if 50 houses were left after the flood. Linton, ND, is also completely underwater from overland flooding. so yes, i would say it IS epic..

[JSErwine]

Thats odd, because I always thought lower incoming housing areas were located closer to flood plains.

I know thats who gets effected most whenever we have had our floods here in Iowa.

[JSErwine]

'income

[FargoxMSUM]

Is there any predictions on house fires at all? There's been one i saw just wondering.

[FargoxMSUM]

Right, makes sense. Well let's hope it doesn't get to that. Hoping for the best expecting the worst

[ajtaggs]

Just ignore cadillaccliton... it is obvious he has some sort of fetish with pissing people off, and my bet is his brain hasn't matured past kindergarten. ignore him long enough and he will go away.

[vaughn1721]

This is the first real flood since '97. I would not say that we live in the worst part of the country. You have all those tornados in the Kansas in and the surrounding states that ask for assistants every year. We ask for it once every 12 years. McMansion? There is more than houses over there, there are colleges and high schools. So before you bash a community know something about it first. Lowlifes? If we were lowlifes why were the North Dakota national guardsmen the first ones to go into war?

[Toph1Ramen]

cadillacclifton2001 shut your fucking mouth, FargoxMSUM is right these people are busting their asses to protect what is thiers. You obviously have no care for other people who are in need so before you go on youtube next time to comment your emo faggot problems. Sort them out first so you dont looking like the doucebag that you are... Go fuck yourself....

[FargoxMSUM]

yawn lol. So you sit on your ass and forget about children and innocent ppl losing their homes and possibly lives. WOW you are my idol. You obviously don't know much about Fargo or Moorhead. Not the sticks by any means.

[FargoxMSUM]

I think we made it for the most part. Now all we can do is keep our fingers crossed :) Water's moving a lot slower. Time for a deep breath? What more could happen a tornado? Dare I mutter it :o

[FargoxMSUM]

cadillacclifton2001

Ha ha you wish. Fargo/Moorhead won't die ever. We are too strong for that bullshit. ;) Worst flood in 500 years ha sweat off our bags. OVER 3 and a half million sandbags in less than 3 days no sweat. DONE. Know why? Because we don't have loser asses like you in our neighborhood moping and bringing others down. We rock as a whole. So go gently pry your head out of your ass and do something with your piece of shit life.

[metaspore]

Who cares, let em drown.

GW BUSH VOTERS.

These people could care less about our country, why should we care about their homes?

[FargoxMSUM]

I did not vote 4 bush. I ve helped n many nationwide disasters & so have a lot of members of my community. We R holding our own without ur help so ur opinion has no meaning Move on with ur miserable life & stop trying to bring others down. I am damn proud of where I live & the community I am apart of The ppl of FM will blow ur mind when we come out of this As the Mayor said We may go down but we sure won't go down without a fight. We bust our asses 2 save ourselves we don't beg 4 government help

[metaspore]

REALLY?

"Down without a fight"!"

Come on, its a spring flood. All you will lose is some over-priced McMansions in a desolate, useless part of the country.

Lets not make this an EPIC situation.

Its a spring flood.

A time where poor people come out to save the wealthy peoples homes.

[ajtaggs]

Its the worst red river flood in 500 years... your an idiot if you think the only thing it can damage is riverside houses. MSUM and Concorida both evacuated their residential dorms, and I don't think the houses and apartments around the colleges are owned solely be rich people.

Please use your brain, before your mouth.

[FargoxMSUM]

MSUM and Concordia did not evacuate because of fear of water they are worried about having sewage problems only. MSUM is one of the highest points. They are simply being pro-active.

[ajtaggs]

I know why they evacuated, but MSUM fears that if the sandbags fail, they will have water on roads all around them, making it almost impossible to escape the school if you stayed.

MSUM is basically on a hill, but the buildings around it could still be in danger.

[z28vixen]

Keep kicking ass, Fargo!!!! I'm praying for you from Bismarck.

[allsmiles2002]

God bless you, each and every one of you!!!!!!!!!!!

[FargoxMSUM]

I'm hoping you are not still in your home Seeing how they stopped evacs after dark im guessing you are unless it was an emergency. Please be safe. Moorhead is pretty bad from what i've gathered. Was at the dome helping all day so havent kept up much. you're in my prayers along with the entire FM community

[dirkmonson]

My house "should" be okay. I'm not too far off 25th street and I-94 in Fargo in what they are calling the "white zone." Evidently, we're high enough that even at 43 feet the water won't touch us. My thoughts are with the river neighborhoods at this point.

[FargoxMSUM]

Ya. I'm 18th ave and 40th st. I've just been volunteering as much as possible.

[ashweirdo]

Yeah, Moorhead seems to be a lot less organized... they have no sort of contingency plan available to the public, they've evacuated a lot more than Fargo, and they did nothing for all those poor people in Oakport.

Was really depressing to find out that all the work I'd been doing there was futile because it's now all underwater... should've built a dike there after '97, but I guess we didn't learn our lesson.

[commentor9]

Im stuck in my house in south moorhead now, in evacuation area but staying. hopefully we dont lose our house.... =(

[hrhirene]

Please get out. There is no use in you getting hurt, swept away or dying along with all the other tragic things happening. Please leave!

[SempreFi08]

as of march 25th the river is at 43ft n still rising. the dike here is 60ft n idk if even that will be enough...

[commentor9]

thats grand forks

[rckstar7]

hundreds of people,,,thousands for sure

[OuranJunkie]

All the volunteers have done a great job. When I go out sandbagging I'm so amazed at all the help that we're receiving.

[TaylorSwiftRocks1124]

As a fellow member of this community, I've seen tons and tons of volunteers fighting to help out our neighbors. What wonderful people we live with in the F-M area! Just by all the volunteering efforts, I'll know we'll get through this!!

[commentor9]

How could we possibly NOT get through this, were always gonna make it through, its not like were just gonna die. It just depends on how many houses we lose.

[chrisstv1979]

Yes I am in Moorhead and I know now that the river will crest to 41 Feet by Saturday March 28, 2009.

[DexterStoopid]

This sucks.just like 97 flood

[95surferdude95]

its suppossed to be worse than the 97 flood

[kvhansel]

That's what they're saying. I never thought we would have a flood worse than 1997, but it's happening.

[commentor9]

its officially worse than 1997 now