Our city is flooding
 

Dear friends...Our city has been fighting a flood for over 2 months and 4 weeks ago, there was an evacuation of many people living in the valley. They were out of their homes for 3 or 4 days and things looked better. This week we were hit with devastating news...that our city was going to be under massive amounts of water due to water coming down from Canada. They were stopping work on the dikes as they couldn't be raised enough for that amount of water and working on saving infrastructure. That was Monday at about noon and evacuations began. Once again, I helped friends evacuate and it is so gut wrenching. They say the homes and businesses will be destroyed because of the force of the water and the amount. Today we were hit with more bad news. They are saying there will be an additional 3-4 feet on top of the already massive amounts of water. I can't stand it. This news today called for additional evacuating beyond the first evacuation map. I will be able to walk a block and a half down my hill and see water. It is already coming over the dikes in many areas of the city and as of 3 AM, the surge starts and it will quickly flood to upwards of 19 feet by the crest on Saturday and then that crest will stay at that for a week or more. Right now, the river level has dropped, which means that the water is going into the city. Minot consists of a north hill, a south hill, and the valley in between them. With the valley flooded and access from one hill to the other may become impossible, and split the city in two. I live on the wrong side of town. Our grocery stores are evacuated and flooding...my bank is flooding...the hospital is on the south side and the mall is on south hill and many businesses are on South Hill. It is very likely that the sewer system, the water and the power will fail for us on the hills and also sewer back up is a worry. This just gets more and more devastating. There are 700 National Guard here and also help from the Minot Air Base. I am so overwhelmed by how my friends, and all the other people here felt as they left their homes, knowing they would probably not be there to come back to. The sirens sounded here about 1 PM on Wednesday, which told anyone in the evacuation zone to leave immediatly. What an eerie sound...and scary. There is 24 live coverage by our KX news team. They are wonderful and most the guys on there are all losing their homes, but yet they sit there day and night keeping us informed. If you'd like to see pictures and hear live news, or see live web cams as the flood comes in, just go here: KX News Minot - TV Network - Minot, ND | Facebook Along the side, you can click on different things to see. You may have to "Like" it...not sure, but very informative. Live coverage is an option and that gives all the pertinent info.

Other than some tears shed throughout the week, tonight I just broke down and cried my eyes out. This is so heartbreaking...so scary. To know that we stand to lose 25-40% of our city. Even though they have said this is going to happen, I guess I've been in denial and hoping that it wouldn't. Thanks for listening and please pray for the City of Minot and the poor people displaced from their homes and businesses.

Just prayed for you and everyone that is going through this horrible ordeal. I am so sorry what is happening to all of you and pray you make it out without losing anything. Prayer changes things and God is able.

Sending Prayers for all of you! I am so sorry this is happening & I pray everyone is safe and that the devastation will not be as bad as expected.

Oh Connie! I just cannot imagine what you're going through, and your friends and neighbors and the city. I keep praying for everyone to be safe and unhurt through all the weird weather our nation has been going through this year! Keeping the prayers going... let me know if I can help you in any way... Kathy

I am so very sorry for you, and your friends and neighbors. It is hard to imagine that you are facing such a major tragedy.

My prayers are with all who are affected, and I certainly hope the predictions are wrong and somehow all are spared.

I am so, so, sorry you have to go through the stress of this, let alone probable events. I will be thinking of you & your town and praying for all of you. Please be careful. I always try to think that I will not be given more than I can handle, and I like to believe the same applies to you, though it is difficult to believe that right now. Hugs & God Bless. :ghug:

Oh my Connie, I will be praying for your city and all of its citizens. I pray that everyone is safe and that it doesn't get as bad as expected. ((hugs))

Oh Connie, this is so heart-wrenching. This type of devastation is so unimaginable until it becomes reality. Praying for you and your neighbors that God will give you strength and see you through safely. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers. Hugs)))

Oh my goodness Connie! I am so sorry you are going through all this and all the friends in your town. How sad. Please please let me know if there is anything I can do at all! Saying prayers and sending hugs to you!

Oh Connie, I'm so so sorry! I'll be keeping your family and your whole community in my thoughts and prayers.

Hugs,
Bonny

My thoughts and prayers going out to Minot..... praying for a miracle! This year's weather has been devastating in so many parts of the country. :( (((HUGS))) Connie! Stay strong and positive and for yourself and your friends and family who had to evacuate!

Connie, I'm hoping you're safe today. I'm so sorry you are facing this tragedy! I can't imagine going through what you are facing. We will keep you in our prayers. If you can, please keep letting us know you are safe. :(

I and my family are safe. Thankfully we are all high enough. During the night, the flooding has filled much of the valley and I've been seeing pictures that just makes me want to cry. The high flows are yet to come and I can't imagine it being worse than it already is. The flooding is already to my street below and I can't believe it is already that spread out. All my friends homes are now flooded. They are still working to try to build a dike to keep broadway open, but there may not be enough time. Last night I was watching the news where they were showing them diking the university and they were doing that on already flooded streets. Up until yesterday, the university was outside the evacuation map, but then, as has happened so many times, bad news came with higher numbers. I'll update as I can unless we lose power, and then won't be able to. Thank you everyone, for your prayers.

God Bless you, I can't imagine how devastating this is to you and the people that had to leave their homes. I have seen this on the news and pray that this will soon stop. I know they said it would be months before people can return. I will continue to pray for you and your family.

Thanks for letting us know so far you are safe at home. We will continue to pray for you and your community. This is absolutely devastating! Please let us know if you need any help. I will keep watching for updates. So glad you are ok.

wow... Connie I hope and pray you and your loved ones stay safe!!

This is a way that being on yt has changed me so much. I used to see things like this on the news or read in the paper. It was sad, but I did not KNOW anyone that it hurt. Now with "friends" around the world I worry so much more when I see an event like this. I wish I could help.. you are welcome to come have a vacation in miami:)

In 1992 I lived here when andrew hit.. we lost so much. It was hard, but we do pick up the pieces and take baby steps and then you measure time by how long before or after the "event". I remember standing in front of my class one day and was getting ready to lead a discussion by "where were you when andrew hit?" and realized none of my students were even born .... life goes on.

I know God will not put more on your plate than you can handle (trust me... I have been saying that to myself as of late!) You are very much loved by your friends at yt.. if talking and venting helps pm me... I am a very good listener!!

Take care of yourself... you are on my prayer list!!

I am glad you are safe Connie! I have family and friends in southern Saskatchewan and the flooding is just horrible. Around Estevan, whole villages are under water, right up to the roofs of houses.

I work in engineering, and we knew there would be flooding this spring. We spent the winter designing channels to reduce some of the flooding, but it wasn't enough. We knew the water table was high and we had a lot of snow, but it melted so quickly and then there was rain and rain and rain... it was more than anyone expected I think.

Even as far north as I live, roads are under water and the South Saskatchewan River is flowing so quickly and has risen so high, the fire department has warned everyone to stay away... if anyone needed rescue, there is no way they could save them, it's just too dangerous. We have a water ban on and there are huge fines for anyone watering their lawn, because we just can't handle any more water.

Everyone I know is safe, but I feel so badly for everyone who has been displaced and lost their homes and belongings.

Oh Connie I am so sorry you and the city is going through this. When I saw it on the news you were the first person I thought of. Prayers going out to you and your area for safe evacuation of all the people and pets in the city.
Please keep us up-dated on the condition.
Hugs
Jackie
Ps Wyatt is back to Wyatt thanks for asking!

amen! Praying for you all.

Connie, I am glad you and your family and home are safe. It must be heartbreaking to see your friends and hometown lose so much. Sending prayers for the safety of the residents.

Sending prayers have been seeing pictures on tv and it looks devasting.

I just took the dogs for a 2 hour walk in this area and already see devastating flooding in this area. I took pictures, but haven't uploaded them yet. There's a lot of things floating around in the water. It's unbelievable. My Mom's and Dad's house is greatly flooded and that house is about 5 blocks down from me. They are both gone from this world and this is one time I say I'm glad they aren't here. My old neighborhood and one of the areas I was helping evacuate is badly flooded with water already half way up the houses, which means it is already on the main floors. Our Dairy Queen at the bottom of the hill is flooded. Many churches are flooded. The water is now over topping all the dikes throughout Minot and it is going to steadily rise until Sunday. There will be an additional 7-9 feet on top of what there is already. There have been air boats going around and they sure are noisy. I may take a walk again later, but I will leave the dogs home. They were rather shook with all the chaos and also, I'm sure they don't understand how we go for a walk as we've done, and then run into water. I was talking with some guys and we didn't notice the water creeping up on us, and Maddie started to drink some of that rotten water. I quickly pulled her away, and am praying she won't get sick. One thing good is that my vet is on my side of town, so if any of my babies need medical attention, I can get there through some back roads. I don't know that my vet would be there, as he lives on the opposite side of town, but at least the clinic is accessible. The fairgrounds are now flooding and there will be no state fair here this year...the first in history. There are still people evacuating that were not in the evacuation zone before. This is so gut wrenching. Something I thought I'd never see in my lifetime is now happening right before my eyes. I will update again as the water rises. Thanks for your concern and prayers...they are greatly appreciated by myself and all of the people of Minot.

Oh my goodness Connie. How terrible. Is your house far enough or high enough to keep the water away? With so much more coming I can't even begin to imagine. Praying for all of you! Praying Maddie will not get sick from the water as well!!

Hugs and prayers are sent for your family and community.

Oh Thank you for that update.... I am so worried for you! I did watch the link you posted, very informative.... and scary! Do you have emergency rations and water drawn? I fill up the bathtub during bad storms and any buckets and jugs with water, just in case.

Connie, Our hearts go out to you and your community. My parents were from North Dakota so I know exactly what you are referring to and I know North Dakotans stick together! Hang in! I hope all goes well for you and your Yorkies!

Our home is halfway up a hill, so we will be fine. We did get to the other side of the city yesterday and bought 18 cases of bottled water and also bought a couple of large garbage cans which we have filled with water. I just washed my last load of clothes and we will be plugging all the basement drains so we don't get sewer back up. I plan on wearing clothes over and over again and wash by hand things that we run out of. I am about to take another walk, but this time I'm leaving the girls home. I know I'll be shocked at how much it has come up since my 12:00 walk. There's a possibility for severe thunderstorms here now, as storms are banking up around the area. I pray it all misses us and the river basin.

I just saw Minot on the evening news. It is so heartbreaking to watch and I can't imagine how everyone there feels. You and your entire town are in my prayers.

Connie, please let us know if we can do anything. I can not even begin to think what needs to be done. Saying prayers that the storms miss you all!!!! Hugs!

I've been seeing the awful stories about you all on the news and my heart just breaks for your whole area. Those poor people in those news shots look so lost and hopeless and in shock I cannot wrap my mind around the scope of what they are going through and what you do once you are there! Some people will be living in shelters without anything - clothing, medicine, personal comforts of any kind literally for months it seems like. I just cannot imagine the horror of what is happening and I have been praying daily for all of you every day. Please try to hang on and hold onto hope and know that there are those out here who are pryaing for you.