Water, taken in moderation, can not hurt anybody
--Mark Twain--
By: Bob Dvorak
Billions in damage, homes destroyed, residences forced from homes. Is
this how the North Dakota flood will be remembered? As a disaster statistic,
as a one-time report on a world-wide broadcast. The flood of 1997 is much
more than this. It is a tragedy that scars all residents of the Midwest,
a region that exemplifies the battle scars of nature in its darkest times.
Blowing snow tears across the plains eight times. A sheet of ice comes
raining down from the sky. Water roars through the countryside, and fires
ravage a city. Grand Forks, North Dakota has suffered like few cities ever
have. On paper its disaster seems small, no loss of life, the cities population
isn't that large. When viewed as a series of events though, the spring of
1997 is one that will never be forgotten. Four events, an ice storm, blizzards,
a flood, and a fire, have all ravaged this region. Nature has seemingly
selected this typical midwest community to struggle through numerous powers
of the environment.
Now lets take a look at the people of this disaster and
its relation to other disasters
The people
Most residents of the Midwest are astoundingly planning to stay in this
region. The spring of 1997 would be enough to drive anyone away. Imagine
suffering through eight blizzards only to be hit by a flood, a fire, and
an ice storm, almost back to back.
The ice storm was something never seen in this region. Power was knocked
out, crippling the communication information, forcing people to search for
information on the reduced radio broadcasts. Residents of the region went
as long as one week in rural areas without power and heat, being forced
to suffer through the frigid temperatures. Just when recovery began, the
National Weather Service placed a prediction of 49 ft. on the Red River
spring crest. Since this number was already above the 1979 crest which brought
massive overland flooding, the citizens were already concerned.
What followed was a record crest of 54 ft. Citizens were totally unprepared,
some taking only the clothes on their backs. Driven from their homes, residents
could only sit and watch as water overran their dream houses or childhood
homes. Enter the last of the tragedies, the downtown fire. One day after
the evacuation, fires ravaged downtown Grand Forks, not only destroying
a town's heritage but any spirit the tired workers had. Firefighters unable
reach hydrants underwater could only watch as 14 buildings in the historical
downtown area burned to the ground.
The people of this region have been put through a disaster over an extended
period. It isn't just like another disaster where things return to normal
soon. Almost an entire region has been suffering for months. It may not
measure historically with other disasters by the deaths but if there was
a scale for pain, stress, and emotion, the Midwest would measure off the
scale.
  Past
Record U.S. Disasters
1997 Flood Timeline
The Aftermath and Effects
Past Record Disasters
   
Many disasters have ripped across the United States. Each has brought pain,
destruction, and some even death to the regions that they touch. The Flood
of 1997 in the Great Plains is being classified as possibly the most devastating
disaster in modern United States history. Yes, there were no deaths and
few reported injuries, but the fact is the devastation was enormous. The
ratio of damage to other disasters is far greater. Almost 90% of two entire
cities were evacuated and almost every one of the structures affected. Almost
every citizen has been forced to suffer over a disaster that finally ended
after almost a month of inflicted pain to the region. When compared to numbers,
this isn't much, but proportionally to other disasters, its is enormous.
Here is a listing of other disasters. Just wonder with which of these
disasters the Flood of 1997 will be spoken with next.
Earthquakes
1923 Kanto---143,000 people
were killed in Tokyo, Japan and surrounding area by this massive quake.
1995 Kobe---5,000 people were
killed and 100,000 buildings destroyed leaving 1.5 million homeless in the
recent devastating quake
Volcanoes
1980 Mt. St. Helens---1.1 billion
lost in wildlife. Millions in losses to forests and local area. Ash caused
cooling and haze for months following
Ancient times Mt. Vesuvius---Large
eruption in ancient times destroyed the entire city of Pompeii and all of
its inhabitants
Others
1995 Hurricane Andrew---Rocking
Florida and the Atlantic coast, Andrew left 250,000 homeless, 38 dead, and
85,000 buildings destroyed
1993 Midwest Mississippi flooding---Mississippi
water and overland flooding cause billions in damage and measure as worst
flood in U.S. history to the date.
1871 Chicago---Fire tears through
the city causing severe damage and deaths
1906 San Francisco Quake and Fires---Aftershocks
and fires rip through the city caused severe deaths and damage, considered
possibly the worst disaster in modern U.S. history
Flood of 1997 Timeline and Effects
Many things happened to cause the Great Flood of 1997, some small factors,
others large ones. The sum of these factors and the two cities being caught
off guard by the size of the flood resulted in this devastation.
 Time prior to April
City receives eight blizzards and abnormal amounts of snow and precipitation
in the Valley. An ice storm knocks out power across the city and delays
the beginning of flood efforts. National Weather Service (NWS) places a
prediction of 49.ft for the Red River, higher than the past records by almost
a foot.
Week of April 14
River level passes the predicted crest of the NWS. Prediction is risen daily
as the river starts to enlarge. Hundreds of volunteer rush to dikes to fortify
for levels beyond the 50 ft. dike limits. Students are dismissed or released
to help flood fighting efforts, as slowly residents fear the worst as rumors
fly around about crests in the middle 50's.
Friday, April 18
Dikes begin to breach and crack as workers begin to lose the fight. Mandatory
evacuations are given by Mayor Pat Owens for the Central Park, Lincoln,
and Riverside areas, all locations surrounded by the failing dikes. Some
residents are prepared and leave with an ounce of comfort, but most are
caught off guard. All are forced to bring what they can carry or what is
of most value to them. Others just have the clothes on their backs. The
Murray Bridge in East Grand Forks is lost, cutting off the region know as
the Point.
Saturday, April 19
Point area lost as residents need to be air lifted to safety. Grand Forks
Water plant becomes inundated with water and fails. UND President Kendall
Baker cancels classes for the semester at the university. As if the flood
wasn't enough, the old Security Building, erected in 1870's, catches fire
in the downtown area. The inferno spreads to 10 other buildings, causing
loss of property and a city's history.
Sunday, April 20
With the water plant down and the drinkable supply dwindling, residents
continue there exodus from the city. The city's hospital, United Hospital,
thought the safest and last symbol of a functioning city, is forced to evacuate
its patients and close. By this time, more than 95% of East Grand Forks
has been evacuated.
Monday, April 21
News reaches the city that President Bill Clinton will be visiting the next
day. Public schools make the decision to cancel classes for the remainder
of the school year. Residents register will the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) for relief funds and expenses. Most wonder if the amounts
will be enough to restore their lives. Of course, no amount can restore
a lifetime of memories and accomplishments.
Tuesday April 22
President Bill Clinton sees the damage firsthand as he flies over the city.
Clinton comments on never having seen such strength and hope in a community.
As Clinton speaks to evacuees at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, Mayor Pat
Owens speaks her memorable quote, "You bring us hope". A dike
is put on Washington to stop overland flooding. Much controversy is raised
as residence east of the dike believe they are being sacrificed for the
south and west sides of town.
Wednesday April 23
The Red River finally begins its slow decrease as levels begin to recede
leaving remains of lives and memories scattered across the city. This marks
the end of an increase that brought water levels to 54.11 on April 21-22.
This mark breaks the old mark set in 1979 of 48.8 ft by an astounding 5.31
ft. Red Cross President Elizabeth Dole tours the city along with Mayor Pat
Owens and North Dakota first lady Nancy Schafer.
Since then...
Since April 22, the Kennedy bridge was reopened, connecting once again the
two cities of East Grand Forks and Grand Forks. Speaker of the House Newt
Gingrich visits and promises fast action from Congress. The McDonald's heiress,
first anonymously, donated along with another donor, $20 million dollars
to be distributed in $2,000 amounts to every resident affected by the flood.
Water is finally restored on May 2 to most of Grand Forks residences, then
becomes drinkable of May 12. Berms pile up with lost items and ruins from
the flood. Cleanup follows and residents of the city slowly started returning
to their homes, trying to rebuild their lives. Pain in on every face masked
by hope as families assess the damage.
Aftermath and Effects
 Water inundated the University of North Dakota's campus.
Buildings received water in many of their basements. The English Coulee,
which runs through the campus, raged out of its banks to cause the major
flooding that covered the campus. Storm sewers backed up and water blanketed
the streets.
Water levels forced the campus to close its doors and end the semester
prematurely. This was the flood of 1979, that's right not 1997, but 1979.
Sounds awful familiar to everyone in the region. These pictures were reminders
that showed us how the Red River and its tributaries could ravage the city
of Grand Forks. Levels broke past records by reaching 48.8 ft. The entire
city was almost affected by the overland flooding. This was the storied
flood of 1979. Everyone remembered it and warned of the devastation it caused.
But that has long since past. Twenty-two years later, the English Coulee
now has a diversion system to prevent the past overland flooding disaster.
The city is prepared for higher levels with dikes good to 50 ft. We were
safe and comfortable with what the Red could do.
Enter the Winter of '96/Spring of '97. The Valley receives record amounts
of snowfall and battled through eight blizzards. Flood efforts are slowed
by the attention given to an ice storm that knocks out power to half the
city for a day and the surrounding region for a week or longer. The National
Weather Service predicts a 49 ft. crest, 2 inches above the past record,
but the dikes are good to 50 ft., the Coulee is now diverted, everything
should be fine, right?
What followed was a crest of 54.11 ft. not 49. Water in the English Coulee
diversion spilled over and backflowed. The cities of Grand Forks and East
Grand Forks are cut off as the bridges dip below the water levels. These
are just a few of the actions that occurred during the worst flood in North
Dakota's history, maybe even the U.S. With estimations of billions of dollars
in damage, the two cities have been left in ruins. Over $105 million has
been calculated in home and business losses, with that total rising almost
by the hour. $1 billion in aid has been received but that amount has already
been used and more money is being appropriated. With these losses the cities
of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks are trying to rebuild.
Much of the losses came in areas where building had taken place in the
flood plain.
Homes were completely covered. Water flowing near the second story of
some houses, ground level homes were completely lost. Almost everyone in
the diked areas suffered heavy losses as the water spilled over or through
the man-made dikes. Many thought they were protected only to see the river
destroy their homes.
What caused all of this destruction. Did the river do anything different
in the past? Were precipitation levels off the scale? What?
Many factors contributed to this destruction and many could have been
rectified before this occurrence. One problem was building in the flood
plain. Almost every severely affected home was in the 100-year flood plain.
This doesn't mean they should have been safe for 100 years. They were in
the natural plain the river takes when it floods. If not for man-made dikes,
they would have received water annually. Man-made dikes channelized the river. This means
that it forces the river to follow a certain path. By doing this, the river
is not allowed to flow at its own pace or disperse across an area. This
results in faster moving current and more volumes of water running through
an area. This increased volume adds pressure to any opposition, such as
a dike, that stands in its way. Another factor is bridges. The Red River
passes through 5 bridges in the area it covers from its entry into Grand
Forks and its exit at the end of the city. These bridges act as dams, holding
back the water and not allowing water to flow smoothly through the area.
Lack of flow causes water to lag and stay in an area for a longer period
of time.
Many people argue that the National Weather Service is the cause, by
not predicting accurately the crest. Some believed more could have been
done or residents would have prepared better with a more accurate prediction.
Be it this caused opinions to change, it didn't cause the flood. One of
the big factors other than precipitation that added to the flood was the
drainage of wetlands. North Dakota and Minnesota have always been renown
for their prairie potholes. These temporary and permanent wetland covered
the region in the 1960's. Since then the numbers have dropped from 4.9 million
acres to 2.7 million acres in the later 1980's. Why are wetlands such a
big deal? Wetlands act as nature's sponge, they soak up excess water and
store it. When the water table is saturated beyond normal levels, wetlands
can hold the excess water till levels drop back to normal. Wetlands have
been disappearing as farmers drain areas for more crop land or to plant
earlier. This drainage goes to channels that feed the river and its tributaries.
Over time the river volume will increase as less water is stored in wetlands.
One solution offered by the Sierra Club is to restore 1.9 million wetlands
along the North Dakota-Minnesota Red River Valley. With $252 million in
appropriation, farmers can be paid to wait to drain their wetlands, and
allow them to control water levels naturally. This cost would be the same
as any diversionary project proposed by the state. Not only does this protect
from flooding but would restore ecosystems that are dying in the Midwest.
 People need to reassess their interaction with water in their lives.
We cannot live in a natural system and not rely on water, but we do need
a more efficient and productive way to interact without detriment to ourselves
or the ecosystem. It is not the water usage that is a problem, it is the
water management. We as a people need to respect the power of nature. All
to often we take for granted the power it has. Only after a disaster like
this do we learn the effects of our alteration of the environment. The Native
Americans had a great philosophy about the land. They took almost a stewardship
role in believing no man possessed the land. It was theirs to use and protect,
not to exploit. We need a similar vision. In the future as we rebuild and
restore, we must keep in mind what the natural systems does. We can live
in symbiosis with the environment. If we respect it , nature will provide
for us. We must understand truly how river environments work and then devise
a plan of action where both our needs and the environment's are met. Only
after this will we be able to live safely and comfortably.
 
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