Just about six hours before we reached Fargo, I called EOC (Emergency Operations Center) and they explained they were in need of a hovercraft. Though the manmade dikes were holding well, a few people needed to be evacuated in low lying areas and the airboats were experiencing some challenges getting into some areas.
We arrived at 5:50 am to the area they told us to report to – which was a jail – only to find out they decided to evacuate the area due to rising waters. We got diverted over to the sheriff’s office and then on to the public works department where the airboats were congregated.
The First Response Team introduced themselves to the water rescue team of Fargo. We showed them the hovercraft, explained to them what it could do and that we will be available to assist them in any way they may need. They expressed their thanks and asked us to wait with them and be on standby throughout the day…which we were more than willing to do.
The mood was tense because the waters were going to rise higher than they had ever been before. The mayor got on the airways saying, “The river is expected to behave in ways never before observed.” The National Weather Service made some startling announcements about the river and how unpredictable the next few days were going to be.
Though no levees were breaking, I understood the importance of standing by the next few days in case we were needed to evacuate people. Right now the focus should be getting the levy built and then getting everyone to safety.
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