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The young people's flood

Posted at 4:44 PM on March 24, 2009 by Bob Collins (7 Comments)
Filed under: Disasters, Floods

Youth may be wasted on the young, but the young aren't wasting it this week in Moorhead and Fargo. If it weren't for college, high school, and junior high school students, these cities would already be under water. Many of them returned from spring break to help out.

When the experts said they needed to make 200,000 sandbags a day, they made 200,000 sandbags a day. When they said they needed 300,000, they made another 300,000, and many have returned every day because they need more.

And it's not just that they're helping fill sandbags, it's that they're doing so as if it's a party. For some homeowners, that's enough to raise spirits far above flood stage.

Here's a group I found along the Red River in Moorhead on Tuesday, the last day for "good sandbagging," according to weather experts. Snow is due through the rest of the week. Click on the arrows icon on the bottom right-hand corner for the full News Cut slideshow experience.

Comments (7)

proof that kids, and/or young people will rise to the occasion, given the trust!

Posted by minn whaler | March 24, 2009 7:20 PM

It is actually a tradition for the Tri College area (Concordia College, Moorhead State, and North Dakota State University) to galvanize for sandbagging. We did it 30 years ago when I was at CC. It is great to see the younger generation carrying on....however I betcha they all had IPODs or cell phones!!!

Posted by Lily | March 24, 2009 8:25 PM

Apparently, over at the Fargodome, the sound system is booming! and nobody is telling the kids to turn it down!

Posted by Bob Collins | March 24, 2009 8:43 PM

Lily: alot of us did have cell phones - but that was just so we could direct our other friends who wanted to volunteer as to where to go and who to call. Technology has been a great help in this flood!

Posted by Hannah | March 25, 2009 12:56 PM

These young people are an inspiration to us all! You give me hope for tomorrow. God bless every one of you!

Posted by John | March 25, 2009 7:53 PM

That was me!! this is cool, keep strong F-M Area!

Posted by Crowser | March 26, 2009 10:01 PM

I wish I could be there with you and the kids John. I would love to help out. Please know I'm thinking of you all and I love you Kris

Posted by Kris | March 28, 2009 6:14 PM