Flood or Blizzard? Make up your mind!

Yes, we are now going to face a blizzard. Bring it on!!!!

The West Fargo Schools superintendent said it best, "Can I call two storm days for the same day?" (The kids already have the day off for the flood now a blizzard)

Now what do we do?

What do citizens of Harwood do when they are surrounded by water and isolated from the rest of the world? They gather at the neighbors house of course.
Janelle talking flood strategy with neighbors.

Kids just go about having fun. Jordan is the closest in the blue coat, Austen is sitting in the green and blue, Jaden is blue coat and hat sitting, and Megan is in the back in pink.

More pictures

The Mighty Sheyenne.Many emergency vehicles are now stationed in Harwood. Below are a few 4 wheelers that I am not sure what they have planned.
Below is Megan and Jaden's school with their new bussing plan (just kidding). Last Monday they packed up the school and the kids were placed in two different schools in West Fargo. They were both a little nervous at first but got use to it. They then had school there on Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesday was a storm day and Friday and all of this week they are off because of the flood.

More flood pictures

Below is a picture of Hwy 81 going south out of Harwood.

Below is a picture of the road that goes east out of Harwood. Cars are going through it but it was not recommended. To the left you can see the current.

Below is a picture taken on top of the overpass over I29 looking south. Obviously the interstate is closed.

Below is a picture of the dike that is a block North of our house.

I had dike patrol from midnight to 3 am last night. Todd, my neighbor, and I checked dikes until the wee hours so our fellow residents could rest peacefully. Boy, we are model citizens. I didn't even have to use my thumb to plug any holes.

Harwood Flooding

As many know most of the Red River Valley is battling a historic flood. In the 100+ years or recording river levels this is the highest it has ever been. We lived in Harwood during the 1997 flood which at that time was record levels. Harwood was an island then and it now is the same. Though the flood is different in many ways the most significant for us is we now have the safety for 4 children to consider. We have had our bags packed for many days in case of an emergency evacuation hoping that we would be able to grab them if the time came. We have have had many offers from family and friends to go to stay at their homes to which we are extremely grateful but in the end we decided to stay secluded from the rest of the world on the Harwood Island. After talking with our engineers and city leaders I feel are dikes are high enough and we should stay dry. The only threat I feel is if the dike that protects us from the Sheyenne River would fail then we would have water within inches of our house depending on the river level at that moment.

Below are a few of the pictures taken so far:


Above picture is a picture looking across the Sheyenne River into Harwood. Hard to tell but the water is still a few feet away from the top of the dike.

Above is a picture of the air boats(wind boats) going to a rescue in rural Harwood. They are traveling on a road which is diked on the other lane.

Close up picture of one of the boats as it passes by in an emergency rush.

Jordan's new friends

Jordan has two new imaginary (?) friends that he has been playing with (you would think with 2 brother and a sister he wouldn't need any). The one friend's name as Abba (not the music group) and the other is Lucia Garcia (who we are informed is a boy). When I had the picture below up on the computer Jordan pointed out to me that this picture is of Jordan, Austen and Abba. Apparently Abba is standing behind and between Jordan and Austen wearing yellow.

Is a child therapist covered under most health plans?

Compliment Only a Mother Could Love

Jadenism:

Last Friday Janelle made fish sticks for supper and Jaden ate a "ton" of them. He liked them so much he wanted to give Mom the ultimate compliment so he told her "Mom, these are so good!! Your such a good cook that you could be a cook at the school."