UPDATED: August 2009
In response to the flood that struck Fargo, North Dakota in March, Hand of Hope partnered with Convoy of Hope to provide relief efforts throughout the area. Also teaming up with local churches, they have been able to distribute resources to the hardest hit areas.
Forty thousand pounds of disaster relief supplies including water, food, cleaning supplies, flood buckets and more were dispatched. Because of a massive blizzard that hit immediately after the flood, distribution was difficult but was completed as soon as the weather permitted.
March 2009
A massive blizzard bore down Monday on flood-ravaged North Dakota as officials struggled to shore up levees against potential erosion from high, powerful waves and swift-moving waters.
In the last week, U.S. authorities have expressed concern that about 30,000 people could be left homeless in North Dakota as a result of the worst flood in over a century, caused by the swollen Red River.
Fed by melting snow, the river has begun breaching levees and miles of sandbag dikes constructed by local citizens.
"We don't want to lose the fight at this point," says Deputy Mayor Tim Mahoney. "We could have a flood in areas if we don't watch our dikes."
The Red River reached a high of 40.8 feet (12.4 meters) early Saturday in Fargo—breaking the previous record of 40.1 feet (12.2 meters) in 1897—and only inches below the top of the city's highest levees.
An estimated 3,500 people have been evacuated so far. Officials said several hospitals, clinics and area colleges were also evacuated.
Our Response to This Crisis
In the past several days, Convoy of Hope, a partner organization of Joyce Meyer Ministries, has had staff in Fargo and along the Red River assessing the situation. They are working with local churches to coordinate resource distribution to the hardest hit areas.
“There are over 300 homes that have been damaged so far,” says Convoy of Hope’s Director of Disaster Response Kary D. Kingsland. “Weather conditions have been challenging, and the snow and cold temps have slowed water flows, creating another set of issues with the ice dams that have formed.”
Kary also fears that there are small communities closer to the Canadian border that could be a total loss if the situation deteriorates. For the most part, the dikes are holding.
Two Ways You Can Help
First, please pray for those who’ve been evacuated. Pray that we can quickly acquire the resources needed to provide emergency aid to desperate children and families.
And second, donate now to help support our disaster relief efforts, as well as other vital missions outreaches. Your contribution will help Joyce Meyer Ministries provide emergency aid to families devastated by this disaster.