Communications for Evacuees
Part II: Reunion Room in Moorhead
By Laura McCallum
April 25, 1997

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One of the biggest challenges for people who left the Red River Valley because of flooding has been getting information about their homes, towns and loved ones. In part two, we hear about a place where people gather together for news and contact.

THERE'S AN ON-GOING "reunion" of residents of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks taking place in the Moorhead State University ballroom. Evacuees can watch videos of their flooded town, have a cup of coffee, and check a wall covered by hand-written messages with people's whereabouts. A huge map of the community sits on an easel, and people who stop by mark the spot where their home is located. About thirty families from East Grand Forks, and nearly two-hundred from Grand Forks, have put their red dot on the map. Organizer Jean Riendeau of Grand Forks says it's important for people who've gone through this shared tragedy to connect with each other.

IT'S REALLY SOMETHING WHEN SOMEBODY WALKS IN AND SEES ALL THESE NAMES ON THE BOARD, AND THEN RECOGNIZES THEM - OH, THAT'S MY NEIGHBOR! OH, I KNOW THEM - OH, I WONDER HOW THEY ARE - OH, THEY'RE HERE! AND PEOPLE CAN GET AHOLD OF EACH OTHER. AND IT'S JUST LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY.

Just then, three generations of Grand Forks residents walk in - Mary Peterson, her daughter Lisa Rasmussen and granddaughter Keanna. They head straight for the big map.

WELL, SOMEBODY FROM OUR STREET'S BEEN HERE BECAUSE WE'RE RIGHT HERE. (NAT OF CRYING KID)

Mary Peterson says they came here to get some food, toys for Keanna to play with, and INFORMATION.

LIKE, I THINK OF ALL THE PEOPLE AT WORK AND EVERYTHING, AND I HAVE NO CLUE AS TO WHERE THEY ARE. AND YOU DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE SAFE OR IF SOMETHING HAPPENED. AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER HAS REGRESSED. SHE WAS OFF THE BOTTLE AND OFF THE PACIFIER AND IS ON BOTH. AND REALLY CRYING, AND DOESN'T TRUST PEOPLE.

Another woman spending time at the reunion center is too distraught to be interviewed - she's frantically trying to find her two sisters, and she's tried flood Web pages, shelters, everywhere. Two professors from the University of North Dakota have come here several times - like many evacuees, Lucy Ganje says she and Sharon Carson have been traveling around the state for days.

WENT TO BISMARCK AND FELT TOO DISLOCATED - TOO FAR AWAY. THEN WE WENT TO WALHALLA, AND STAYED THERE AT FROSTFIRE MOUNTAIN WITH OTHER FACULTY MEMBERS WHO HAD GOTTEN THERE, BUT STILL FELT TOO FAR AWAY. AND SO DROVE DOWN TO MOORHEAD TO STAY WITH A FRIEND WHO'S ON FACULTY HERE. AND AS SOON AS WE CAME, SHE TOLD US ABOUT THIS ROOM. AND IT'S BEEN IMPORTANT FOR US JUST TO BE CONNECTED WITH PEOPLE.

Ganje and Carson say they're fortunate - Moorhead State has allowed them to access their email, and they've been able to check their voicemail, still operating sporadically at UND, to stay in touch with students and colleagues. But many evacuees don't have access to the Internet or voicemail, and both professors say the flood has demonstrated how critical grassroots efforts like this reunion are in linking people. Reunion organizer Jean Riendeau says most importantly, it allows Grand Forks/East Grand Forks residents to socialize with friends and neighbors. She says people haven't lost their sense of humor.

AND WE JOKE! AND WE LAUGH HERE; WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CONTEST TO SEE WHO CATCHES THE LARGEST CATFISH IN THEIR HOUSE! WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD ONE! YOU HAVE TO BECAUSE ONCE WE GET HOME AND HAVE TO WORK - I WAS OUT TO THE SALVATION ARMY TODAY LOOKING AT STUFF AND WHEN YOU START REALIZING YOU'RE LOOKING AT ALL THAT CLEAN-UP, ALL THAT CLEAN-UP STUFF - IT'S (BIG SIGH) IT'S TOUGH.

Riendeau says the reunion at Moorhead State will be open as long as people keep coming.

Return to Flood of 1997.