PRESS RELEASE
Fargo Salvation Army Flood Fight
Expands to 4,600 Square Miles
Urgent need for disaster assistance in rural areas
FARGO, N.D. – April 14, 2011 – As the high water situation in the Fargo-Moorhead urban area continues to stabilize and move into the recovery stage, the mission of The Salvation Army disaster relief teams just grew a lot larger.
The Salvation Army disaster relief operation has expanded from a 196-square-mile urban area to covering 4,600 square miles encompassing the communities of Ashley, Ellendale, Foreman, Lisbon, Valley City and surrounding rural areas of Southeastern North Dakota.
Today, two Salvation Army mobile kitchens carrying drinking water, sandwiches and energy producing snacks will be dispatched from Fargo to Valley City and a third will be sent to Lisbon. In addition, a vehicle will be dispatched to provide cleaning supplies for the communities of Foreman, Ellendale and Ashley.
Disaster teams from the Twin Cities, Hibbing and Fergus Falls departed this morning to join the effort. In addition, volunteers from the Fargo-Moorhead amateur radio club have joined Salvation Army mobile kitchen crews to provide communications for the units, some of which will be travelling more than 100 miles to reach affected areas. The volunteer crews expect 14- to 15-hour days as they provide help and support across such a large area.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been forced to release water from dams along the regional rivers of eastern North Dakota to prevent their overflowing and possible washout or collapse. As a consequence, the upstream rural towns and villages are now confronted with contaminated water supplies, reduced food supplies and post-flood clean-up.
“Dozens of rural communities and farms are surrounded by water and many homes have already succumbed to flooding,” said Major Byron Medlock, Salvation Army Disaster Relief Director. “Our staff and volunteers are doing all they can to provide support.”
Individuals and communities beyond the area outlined can obtain assistance by contacting The Salvation Army at 701-356-2252, or contacting The Salvation Army centers in Grand Forks and Bismarck.
To donate to the Fargo Salvation Army, call 800-SAL-ARMY or mail a check to 304 Roberts St., Fargo, ND 58102. Be sure to designate your donation “Fargo floods.” To volunteer, call the Fargo Salvation Army at 701-232-5565. Click below to make an online donation.
