[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12405-S12406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HEROES SHINE IN NORTH DAKOTA FLOOD

 Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, as my colleagues in the Senate are 
well aware, one of the Nation's worst weather-related disasters of the 
year was the devastating flooding in Grand Forks, ND and the entire Red 
River Valley. This historic flood captured the attention of the Nation 
in late spring as over 95 percent of the residents of Grand Forks and 
East Grand Forks were evacuated from their homes and much of North 
Dakota's second largest city's downtown district was ravaged by fire 
and water.
  Disasters have a way of bringing out the true character of people, 
and that certainly was the case in North Dakota. History will have a 
dramatic record of the loss and devastation of

[[Page S12406]]

the flood. I also hope that it will record the tremendous efforts made 
by many North Dakotans to survive and to rise to the occasion with 
heroic feats.
  Now that a few months have passed since the waters have subsided, it 
is time to reflect back on some of the many heroes--people that stepped 
up when their community needed them--whose efforts shined despite the 
rising waters.
  In a disaster the extreme importance of a communication system is 
pivotal in fighting back and preserving the safety of those in the 
area. Today, I would like to recognize the efforts of several US West 
Communications employees who worked tirelessly to maintain critical 
telephone service to the Grand Forks area throughout the flooding.
  On April 19, 1997 a crew of nine central office technicians 
barricaded themselves into the US West building in the heart of Grand 
Forks to keep the communication systems of the area up and running 
during the disaster. The extensive preventive work that the US West 
workers completed to get ready for the flooding would now be tested as 
their building was surrounded by 4 feet of water, and sat just one 
block away from a raging fire. The work of these men and women 
sustained phone service to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
Federal Aviation Administration, State and local emergency workers, and 
so many others in the flooded region.
  To give you an idea of the challenges facing these workers, they 
labored night and day to keep the wires dry as 26 inches of water 
threatened basement cables. Sustained by the food, clothing, and cots 
delivered via boat by the National Guard, these folks stayed on as the 
area was evacuated by all other people. In light of this adversity--and 
armed with high-volume pumps, drying machines, and sandbags--these 
courageous people sustained service to 50,000 area customers and 
hundreds of emergency workers.
  I would like to recognize these heroes by name for their dedicated 
service is appreciated by me and many others touched by their efforts. 
The members of the initial emergency team were: Denny Braaten, Linda 
Potucek, Larry McNamara, Bob Schrader, Dan Kaiser, Dale Andrews, Glenda 
Wiess, Rick Hokenson, and Lew Ellingson.
  Two days later, US West reinforcements arrived to provide additional 
support and hard work. I would like to recognize these workers now: Don 
Jordan, Ray Jacobsen, Tim Kennedy, Roger Jones, Bruce Bengston, Gary 
Boser, Jim Falconer, Bion McNulty, Jack Olson, and Tim Rogers.
  I am tremendously proud of the courage and dedicated service 
demonstrated by the US West employees in Grand Forks. They, along with 
so many others who volunteered and continue the rebuilding efforts 
today, exemplify the North Dakota spirit.

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