[16646] in APO-L
Massive destruction in Grand Forks, ND
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Tanya Refshauge)
Mon Apr 21 17:15:15 1997
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 17:09:41 -0400
Reply-To: TanyaKR@AOL.COM
From: Tanya Refshauge <TanyaKR@AOL.COM>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
Dear Brothers-
It is rare that I find myself in a position to post to the entire Nation.
This is an exception.
No doubt many have heard of the massive flooding and destruction that is
occurring in Minnesota and North Dakota as a result of the mammoth amounts
of snow fall, the spring rains, and the rapidly melting snow. This past
week, all of the preparation efforts of hundreds of thousands of residents of
four larger cities failed. The result: massive loss of property . . .
thankfully, no loss of life as of today.
This is hitting particularly close to home as the city hit worse is that of
Grand Forks, ND, the home to the Epsilon Theta Chapter at the University of
North Dakota.
The Red River flows north, and as the other cities to the south were more or
less able to channel the river away from their homes, the volumn and speed of
water would not be contained any longer. The catastrophic consequences was
the evacuation of 70,000 people from the city of Grand Forks, ND and East
Grand Forks, MN . . . including the students at the University of North
Dakota.
Every home, every business, every public utility is destroyed and shut down.
There is no water, there is no sanitation system, even the electrical
systems are in jeopardy. To add salt a massive wound, a fire started
downtown on Saturday afternoon. The fire fighters couldn't reach it due to
the flooding. Once they loaded trucks on military transports to challenge the
four feet of water, the had no pressure in the water systems with which to
fight the fires. Eleven downtown buildings were burned completely to the
ground.
The tragedy is yet unfolding. The river has yet to crest. More water is
expected as swelling lakes are being channeled into the river. Residents
aren't expected to be able to return for at least three weeks.
So, what does this have to do with Alpha Phi Omega? Two things. First, due
to the uninhabitable state of the city, the University of North Dakota has
closed the university for the remainder of the spring semester. They have
cancelled all classes. They have cancelled graduation. In the middle of the
day, students were told to evacuate, taking what they could, and leaving what
they couldn't take with them.
The second thing that relates to Alpha Phi Omega is our ability to help when
help is needed. Many of us here in Region IX are feeling motivated to be of
assistance and are mobilizing ourselves to do what we can now, and also for
the indescribable volumn of clean-up which will follow the receding waters.
If your chapter is in a position to be of assistance, the best means by which
to do this are two:
(1) Monetary drives for donations to the American Red Cross- SPECIFICALLY
designated for the North Dakota Flood Response. This money is used in the
form of vouchers to victims for food, clothing, cleaning supplies, etc.
(2) Supplies and material drives for donations to the Salvation Army.
These supplies are shipped to the affected areas to assist with the
clean-up. Needed supplies include: bottled water, paper plates, plastic
silverware, paper cups, cleaning supplies, rubber gloves, paper towels,
regular towels, large garbage bags, toilet paper, beverages, institutional
sized cans of food.
Thank you for your time in reading this lengthy post. I am confident that
the residents of these affected communities will find strength as other
victims across the country always have. I also am confident that Alpha Phi
Omega will make a difference.
Tanya Refshauge
Region IX Director
