Minot Floods

I just wanted to give a quick update for our family and friends that have called, emailed, and texted to check on us and see how we are being effected by this flood.

First of all, Minot AFB (where we live) is not being flooded...at all.  In the spring some of the older housing had some basements flood, from the snow-melt and heavy rain, but other than that, none.  Base is located about 10 miles North of Minot, ND.  Minot, ND, however, is in desperate need of prayers right now.  Last week 12,000 people were evacuated out of a portion of Minot (only 200 are in shelters so most people are living with complete strangers).  The Mouse River flows right through a portion of the town, and that portion happens to be the lowest part of Minot, making it sort of a big bowl.  The flooding is NOT due to rain.  We keep getting a lot of people commenting saying "wow how much rain are you guys getting?"  The fact is, we have had very little rain recently.  The flooding is due to the lakes and rivers being over filled from the snow-melt up North, causing too much pressure and them having to release water from the dams more North of Minot.  Of course, when we do get a little bit of rain here and there, it doesn't help, but it is really not making it worse.

If you check out KX News Facebook there is lots of photos and information (click on the KX news only part of the feed just below the 5 pictures at the top of the page, or you will just see endless posts of stuff from other people that most likely isn't true).  The flooding has completely destroyed so many homes, as in some areas, the water is almost covering the roof.

How this is effecting us:
The worst part right now is our water supply.  There is a possibility of water contamination in Minot (where we get our water from) with some sort of bacteria or parasite.  So for the last 2 days we have been on a boil order.  We can only drink bottled or boiled water.  We can't use tap water to wash dishes, brush our teeth, or any other use that could possibly lead to ingestion.  The commissary, shopette, and BX have all been insane...running out of water, getting more in, and running out again super quick as everyone is panicking. It is sort of inconvenient having to boil water, and making sure the girls down get into the facets, and showering them without getting water on their faces...but we are just thankful we are safe, warm, and dry...and dealing with this whole water thing is nothing compared to what some of the folks in town have to go through right now.  The hardest part for me right now, is we are doing VBS this week, and I am working in the kitchen, so making sure everything is using clean water, and that the kids don't wash their hands, but instead use sanitizer and not drink water from the fountains....it certainly made that task a little more stressful than it should be.

We can not really go into town.  Right now there is very limited access to both sides of town.  There is so much being done in town trying to build up and strengthen the dikes, that they are begging people to only travel to and from town if it's an emergency...so we have not been in town for almost a week.

Our base pool closed a couple of days before the boil order started because of the possibility of contamination and needing to conserve water just in case.  This bummed the girls and I out big time, because we had just bought pool passes and had spent the last 3 days in a row there :(

Plane tickets have sky rocketed.  My parents bought us tickets to come home in July for a couple of weeks since we will not be home for Christmas this year.  With all of this going on we thought maybe we could come home early so I do not have to stress about this water thing with the girls...well with the price difference in price of the tickets it would cost about $500 a piece to change them to an earlier date...so that was a go no :(  But the good news is, we will still be coming home to visit family as planned from mid-end July.

We do appreciate all of the phone calls and the love that has been pouring out for us and the people of Minot.  We can't help but ask for prayers and the continued love and support.  Again, we are safe and not flooded or fear being flooded.  We will use our blog to keep people updated with details about how we are doing; but for now we are safe, dry, and covered with the love of God.