Requiem for Riverview Circle

Posted at 7:07 AM on March 27, 2009 by Bob Collins (5 Comments)
Filed under: Disasters, Floods

I made it onto Riverview Circle a little bit before sunrise. The police roadblocks were gone. The sandbag stations were abandoned. There were no giant piles of sand, signifying that everything the city brought, the residents used. And still, it wasn't enough.

The National Guard humvees have been replaced by troop trucks, indicative that there are still more people that need to get out.

At the Morse's house, son "Hoss" was trying to warm up. Hie was in bare feet with his pants rolled up, his waders were wet from trying to help a neighbor whose basement was being overtaken by the Red River, which had found its way in through a drain. The sump pumps burned out trying to save it.

Everyone out at the Morse house was gone. I told him I was sorry for what his family was going through, he smiled -- as everyone has this week -- and said "what are you going to do."

This neighborhood, and this city, which is getting far too little recognition as the media makes its mad dash to Fargo, did in five days, what it took three weeks to do in 1997, and they've done it better, and they've made the dikes higher.

I think a lot of people though that if it all went south, it would do so with water flowing over the top of a dike, and people still trying to stop it. But it didn't end that way.

The street outside John Brummer's house has about a half foot of water on it, again from the drains. Hoss says John evacuated last night, but I have not been able to confirm that.

Over at Bruce and Vikki Peterson's house, a light burned in a front room, and I think I saw Vikki at a computer, but I couldn't tell for sure, I stepped in water outside their house and water poured into the last pair of dry boots I had. Compared to Riverview Circle, I've got it good.

Update 7:38 a.m. - Now that the sun is (almost) up, I stopped by John Brummer's house.

Water is streaming down the driveway. Nobody is home. Only the sound of birds punctuates the neighborhood. A pallet of sandbags still sits in the driveway. They never made it to the wall.

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Comments (5)

Bob - Bruce and I are still here. Pumping the water from the backyard over the dike - so far so good. The basement took on a little water yesterday but currently we have it under control. Looking for a 1 inch plug - do you happen to have one on you.

Stop over - the coffee is on!

Posted by Bob | March 27, 2009 7:23 AM

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Thanks for writing, tweeting, telling the story. A lot of us in the Twin Cities have connections in FM and are grateful for the news.

Posted by Mary | March 27, 2009 8:12 AM

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Great reporting, Bob. Thanks for bringing the stories of the people of FM to us.

Posted by Matt Abe | March 27, 2009 8:43 AM

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Hi Bob,

I am John Brummer's son, and he wanted you to know that he is back at the house to continue the fight. Thankfully, he did leave last night for safety and a few hours of needed sleep. He returned this morning around 6 and is determined to keep fighting the river. He said to stop by whenever you have a chance.

Thank you very much for keeping us so well informed of how the community is doing. My wife and I work with an orphange in Honduras, and we really appreciate your postings, videos and pictures. My sons and I wish we could be there to help. Please tell my dad to keep putting up a good fight and that this four grandkids here are all cheering for Grandpa!

Matt

Posted by Matt McMerty-Brummer | March 27, 2009 9:42 AM

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Bob
I met you yesterday when I came up to John's to make barbeque. So much has happened since I walked in the door at 5:30. It has been quite the ride of emotions, but I am proud of my family and know they are doing the best they can. I soooooo appreciate this website and all of your awesome reporting and pics. I can stay connected during the day. The John Brummer family is a wonderful family and I feel lucky to know all 17 and a half of them!

Posted by Lisa Brummer | March 27, 2009 2:20 PM

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