1JUNE2011 @ Mobridge, SD (me) and near Mission Ridge, SD (canoe) - Showered by 0500 I was at the "Gas & Goodies" by 0600 and busing north by 0700. My intention being to help with the flood response at Ft. Yates, the bus ride was free. At Ft. Yates I gathered with two other bus riders at a building two blocks west from the tribal headquarters. Their presence was not entirely voluntary; they were there to work off a legal obligation. I did not inquire as to the nature of their legal problem, but I did ask the employee who was helping us sign in about what sleeping arrangements volunteers such as me could count on tonight. Upon being informed that there would be none, I opted to not sign in and instead called for the 0830 bus to Bismarck. By the time the bus arrived about thirty young adults had gathered for flood response assistance. The predominate fashion displayed was jumpsuits and the predominate color was orange. I like orange, but this orange was not necessarily flattering; neither were the grey sweatshirts with "Tribal Inmate" emblazoned across the back.
So I departed Ft. Yates toward Bismarck and once again the ride was free. On the way up I had many occasions to look over the river and compare it's height with that that I paddled through early in May. Of course there is more water flowing and more flooding, yet what is sobering is that the river is expected to rise another four feet by June 12th. Dropped at the Kirkwood Mall I was soon shuttled to the "Bobcat" site where about 150 folks were engaged in filling sandbags and putting them on pallets for transport to the riverbanks. Air National Guard folks were in charge of the scene but generally it operated on a "see-a-problem fix-a-problem basis." So after a half hour or so stacking filled bags on pallets I concluded that the flow of pallets from the pallet stack to the sand bag placement area was my task. I spent the next hour stacking pallets about ten high so that the forklifts would deliver enough to keep up with the bag flow. After that hour we were out of pallets - a problem whose solution is for the military folks. In addition to palletizing bags, individuals were driving through and filling their trucks or flatbed trailers with bags; I assisted Pat Spillman and Dean Anderson with their flatbed. Then I rode out to Pat's house and helped set the bags off in his driveway. Pat's main floor is a few feet higher than others in his neighborhood but the back/waterfront yard is lower and he is addressing that matter. His neighbor is doing nothing ... evidently he has given up and will let the water ruin his house ... and ruin it is exactly right. Three feet lower than Pat's, it's main floor will be wet and the inundation will supposedly last for two months. Two months inundation will ruin any house. Back at the Bobcat site I assisted again with setting bags on pallets, then sat for a late lunch. A table was set up with donated cookies, brownies and small bags of chips. Alongside a street hot dogs and brats were being grilled. Several coolers held iced water. The eating scene was good.
About 1430 I split away to arrange a sleeping place. The Red Cross was NOT providing me a place (hunh?) but at Bismarck State College I got a room for $15. Later I walked a short distance north to a grocery store, bought a sandwich and college football magazine and repaired to the room. The Clemson Tiger orange looks better, much better, than the orange seen earlier at Ft. Yates.