According to Valley News Live claiming a 30% chance that the Sheyenne River will rise to 20.4 feet by the end of the week, the Valley City area was in heavy need of preparation. The Bismarck Tribune reported that the second phase of City Administrator Jon Cameron’s plan would boost the sandbag stockpile to 150,000. After this second phase was called into action after the Valley Flood Watch marked the water at 14.59, high school and college students were supposed to step in to help with sandbagging and dike building efforts.

However, according to an article in the Valley City Times Record, only 30 volunteers turned out by 1:30 pm on Monday. However, in the days to come, the college campus would play a big part in filling the required number of sandbags. “We had a good turnout,” said the President of VCSU’s Student Senate, Kendra Krueger, “Each day there were students present, a good amount was filled. Keeping it interactive makes it more entertaining. We need to lean on each other for support.”

“Some people complain about sandbagging,” said freshman Jamel Mueller, “But I thought it was fun since I went with my friends.”

With the initial lack of turnout for sandbag volunteers, should the local education systems make it mandatory for young people to assist when there is the threat of a flood?

“It shouldn’t be mandatory,” said senior Theresa Foertsch, “But if something is threatening our community, we all have to protect it.”

“I don’t believe it should be mandatory,” said Jodi Shorma, a faculty member at Valley City State University, “Patriotism is voluntary. Voting is voluntary. Joining the military is currently voluntary. Filling and placing sandbags to save a city should be voluntary.

Some teachers, such as Shorma, are even requiring their entire class to meet up at Sandbag Central for class credit. “Of the 22 students in my class, all but two filled and stacked sandbags together,” said Shorma.

The next step is to build dikes around possible areas that are prone to flooding. According to an article published in the Times Record on Monday April 4^th, there will also be temporary levees, built to 22.5 feet, that will also go up in centrally located City Park and Chautauqua Park in the northeast part of town.
"The community really came together to start fighting this flood,” said VCSU senior Loni Sallee, “It's great to see everyone working together. I think we'll be prepared to face this flood."

References

Luessen, D., Morris, L., & Riemerman, P. (2011, April 5). Disappointing turnout delays goals, stresses police force. Valley City Times Record, 133(67), pp. 1, 2.

Morris, L. (2011, April 4). With clay, sandbags, HESCOs, city combats rising Sheyenne. Valley City Times Record, 133(66), pp. 1, 6.

News and Flood Information for the Red River Valley. (2011, April 7). In Valley Flood Watch. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://valleyfloodwatch.com/

Valley City Flood Preps. (2011, April 2). In Valley News Live. Retrieved April 7, 2011, from http://www.valleynewslive.com/Global/story.asp?S=14371769

Valley City reassesses flood protection plan, fills additional 75K sandbags. (2011, April 2). Bismarck Tribune, 133(66), pp. 1, 6. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/article_5571fe50-5af8-11e0-87b6-001cc4c002e0.html