Fargo, North Dakota Flood
Both the American Red Cross of Fargo and the Salvation Army requested teddy bears (over 150) for the families displaced by flood waters from the Red River. We were told that thousands of shivering, tired residents got out while they could and others prayed that miles of sandbagged levees would hold Friday as the surging Red River threatened to unleash the biggest flood North Dakota's largest city has ever seen.
The agonizing decision to stay or go came as the final hours ticked down before an expected crest Saturday evening, when the ice-laden river could climb as high as 43 feet, nearly 3 feet higher than the record set 112 years ago.
Snow compounded the problem according to Cathleen Howe of the Red Cross Disaster Relief Team. The river could continue to rise and those in shelters would not be permitted back in their homes. These are difficult times particularly for children.
Being at church while a gunman walks in and shoots your minister during the service, is difficult for adults to deal with, but for children it is shattering. 204 little angel teddy bears are on the way to comfort these youngsters when they return to church on Sunday, March 15th.
Across Kentucky, the state hardest hit by the deadly ice storm that has hobbled parts of several states for most of this week and last, people without power spent another day Saturday crammed into the homes of relatives, neighbors or shelters. Others awaited sporadic visits from rescuers, and some still hadn't been reached at all. The American Red Cross of Western, Kentucky asked for 50 teddies to carry with them and provide for children who are now living in shelters. Many schools, and businesses have been without electricity for a long time and people are using space heaters that have started house fires. "It's a bad situation and may be quite a while before it gets better", says Hiedi Cox of the Red Cross Disaster Team.
