We need your prayers...

[dakotamouse]

The people of Monatana, North Dakota and South Dakota along the Missouri river are in need of help but will be grateful for just your prayers.

We have had 3 harsh winters with lots of snow and two very wet summers. Right now the Missouri river system is overtaxed and the snow melt from the Rocky Mountains hasn't even started.

When the Garrison Dam was constructed it was supposed to alevate any chance of further flooding in North Dakota but we have, apparently, run into the perfect storm.

In Montana they have recently had enough rain for an entire year in a couple of months. The people of the Crow Nation reservation are hurting. This water is making its way to the Missouri.

Right now the Garrison dam is nearing maximum capacity. Record water flows are being released and these rates will have to be increased. The captiol of North Dakota, Bismarck, is in jeopardy of losing its south side.

People who were told they would never, ever need flood insurance now sit on the brink of losing everything they have worked and saved for.

The Corps of Engineers are working frantically to build levees to try to save homes........but some will be lost.

All this water will move on down the line to South Dakota and then they will be in jeopardy.............from there it will continue on and eventually dump into the Mississippi. These people have just come off a flood and are being allowed to return home. This is insane!

Why none of this dissastor is making the national news is mind boggling!

In Bismarck we had no notice of the extraordinary snow pack in the mountains. We really had no knowledge of the rains in Montana. Had we known we would have begun preparation sooner. The Corps knew. If information were better spread the people of South Dakota and eventually Mississippi could better prepare.

My husband and I have spent Memorial weekend evacuating his mother from a basement condo. We have moved much of our furniture to his sister's home 40 miles away. We are in the process of moving many of our things to our top level and have tried to make them as mold proof as possible. They say the record river releases will continue through July.

This is a slow dissator. No one should die of drowning, but the stress is horrendous and the elderly are suffering.

We have 4 million sandbags prepared with 4 million more to go.

Sorry this post is so long but I needed to vent a bit.

Please pray for us.

[hotrod]

hey mouse, were here!,
we just got back from a whirlwind yellowstone trip. The amount of water in areas that are normally arid/semi desert is unreal, still alot of snow in the higher elevations yet to melt.
we came home thru pierre sd tonight and it was like driving into a war zone. dike building, lots of sandbags, the national guard and everything. I had zero clue this was going on other than things looked a little wet.
best of luck and prayers for everyone in the missouri watershed...

[Juneaudave]

Our prayers are with you and all the people downstream. I grew up in Riverdale...it is hard to understand the amount of water that must be coming through the Missouri system.

[mandy]

Prayers being said for you and all of the people affected by this flood.

[TheBizMan]

Yes, from Arizona too.

[dh]

We had a close call here on the St. Francis river. ACOE reinforced the leave, and it held. I pray all others the same luck we had.

[kirkman]

On there way up!

[mikeschn]

We'll say a prayer for you guys too. I suspect a lot of folks along the Mississippi are going to need prayers before this is all over...

Mike...

[mcspin50]

Mary and Myron,
You and all the folks in ND, SD & Montana in my thoughts and prayers as well.

[dakotamouse]

Thanks everyone. So far conditions are stable, but the we are all worried when the flow level goes to 150,000 cfs. That's cubic feet per second!

I just got back from filling sandbags. Worked a neat thing called a spider filler. Makes the job soooo much easier.

This disastor is going to be immense. If you live along the lower Missouri or the Mississippi I would think twice about moving back into your homes from the last flood. I'm afraid you will be forced out all over again as this passes down the line.

[JuneBug]

Prayers for staying safe and dry headed your way. And you are right; this is not being covered in the national news AT ALL. Please keep us informed.

[JuneBug]

I realized that I'm not familiar with the geography of this area. A google search brought up this op-ed piece dated June 1:
Letter from Langdon: River Resistance
with a graphic showing the Missouri River basin relative to the states as well as significant dam locations.

[i]Where U.S rivers are concerned, the Mississippi gets credit for most water and widest from bank to bank. But the longest river, the Amazon of the U.S., is only a tributary of Ole Miss, the Missouri at 2500 miles.

They don’t call it “Big Muddyâ€

[Juneaudave]

Hope all is well...I saw where the Corp opened the Garrison Dam spillway this morning to release more water. First time in the 60 year history of the dam.
Simply unthinkable.

[dakotamouse]

We have had some good news. The river has not risen as much yet as expected. Apparently the high volume of water is scouring the river bed and making it deeper. This is helping hold down the flood rate. We are at 120,000 cfs but will go to 150,000 by Saturday. Many houses by the river are surrounded by water now.

The Red Cross and the Salvation Army have been wonderful. If you ever consider donating to a charity these organizations are the real deal.

I also have to praise the National Guard. These guys and gals are the best of America's youth and have been working her in 12 hour shifts. They have been building levees, ring diking houses, filling sand bags and directing traffic.

So far our home is safe but my nerves are kinda stretched.

[Bigwoods]

We certainly will be praying Bismarck/Mandan can hold on. What is disconcerting is the this will go on for weeks before it gets better. My Sis in Nebraska is already having problems with the Missouri and all this Northern Plains water has to go her way. Over on this side of the state we remember you helping us with our flooding. Good thought sent your way.