Striving for Normal in Breckenridge
By Dan Gunderson
April 30, 1997

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The Red River has receded in Breckenridge Minnesota, leaving behind lots of mud and millions of dollars of destruction. City officials are beginning to tabulate the damage and people are moving back into flood damaged homes. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.

THE BOAT PARKED IN Don Hoglund's front yard looks a bit out of place, but a few days ago it was the only way to get to his south Breckenridge home. Mountains of sheetrock, 2x4's, furnaces, hot water heaters, and washers and dryers line the street. Don Hoglund is just finishing cleaning out his basement.

I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE AROUND TOWN WHO'VE SAID, YA KNOW IT WAS A SORTA A GOOD THING. I'VE HAD STUFF IN MY BASEMENT SHOULDA BEEN THROWN OUT 40 YEARS AGO. AND NOW IT'S GONE.

The retired highway patrolman still has to clean his water-soaked garage and workshop. He has no flood insurance. He points to the earthen dike a half block away and shakes his head. He's amazed there was so much water the dike couldn't protect his neighborhood. He expects repairs to cost thousands of dollars. He's hoping some federal aid will be available. Still, he says he can't complain.

WE DON'T FEEL JUST TOO BAD WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TELEVISION AND SEE GRAND FORKS AND EAST GRAND FORKS. OURS IS AN INDOOR PICNIC COMPARED TO WHAT THEY'VE GOT.

Across the street Mel Herder stands next to the ubiquitous pile of flood debris. Her home still has no electricity. The useless furnace and hot water heater are on the curb. Her family has been living in a friend's basement for a month.

IT'S GETTING BAD WHEN YOU SAY HOME AND MEAN YOUR FRIEND'S BASEMENT. AND I GIVE YOU MY HOME PHONE NUMBER AND IT'S THEIR NUMBER.

Mel Herder hopes her family can move back in this week. As soon as power is restored.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT. WE CAN SHOWER AT FRIENDS'. OUR STOVE IS ELECTRIC SO I CAN COOK. I CAN WASH DISHES IN COLD WATER. BUT THE KIDS WANT TO COME HOME. HOME IS. . . WE MOVED STUFF UP FROM THE BASEMENT SO HOME IS QUITE CLUTTERED, BUT IT'S HOME. IT'LL BE SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY FOR THEM.

Getting back to normal is the focus for most people in Breckenridge these days. But city clerk Blaine Hill says it's going to be months before flood damage takes a back seat to normal city operations. He's not sure what's harder. Dealing with floodwaters, or the flood of paperwork that has overwhelmed him as he tries to meet federal requirements for flood aid. Hill says there are tens of millions of dollars in damage to city streets and buildings.

Hill says he was excited to hear president Clinton say 100 percent of city costs would be covered, instead of the normal 75 percent. Then he found out it wasn't as good as it sounded.

THEY TALKED ABOUT ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF COSTS, BUT IT WAS ONLY FOR PREPARATION AND DEBRIS REMOVAL. ALL THE DAMAGE THE CITY HAS WILL ONLY BE COVERED TO A 75 PERCENT LEVEL.

Hill says he hopes the state will cover the 25 percent local share. As the floodwaters drained, so has the adrenaline that kept many people going. Blaine Hill says what's buoyed his spirits is the offers of help that continue to pour in. He says IBM called to offer dozens of volunteers from its Rochester operation. Hill says volunteers are needed as much now as when the water was rising.

WE HAD A LOT OF DIKES BUILT. THEY GOTTA BE TAKEN APART. WE CAN'T DO IT WITH CITY CREWS; IT TOOK HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TO BUILD 'EM. THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING IN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS WE'RE GONNA NEED HELP WITH.

Blaine Hill says he expects some businesses will close, and some homeowners will leave for higher ground over the next several months. But he expects the community to survive.

Return to Flood of 1997.