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By Kent Larsen
Mormon Volunteers Help Save St. Paul from Floods
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA -- The swollen rivers in Minnesota made yesterday
anything but a typical Sunday. Both Mormon and Jewish groups were
among those that produced 140 volunteers to fill an estimated 20,000
sand bags to save an Army National Guard helicopter hanger and
headquarters building from the rising Mississippi.
"Even though it's hard work -- my arms started to shake from
shoveling -- I know it's helping someone out," said Church member
Dayna Groom, a senior at Prior Lake High School. She was part of a
group of 100 LDS teens and adults from congregations in Lakeville,
Farmington, Prior Lake and Bloomington, Minnesota that came to help.
Air Guard captain Jeff Merricks was grateful for the help, "I would
not have been able to save this building without the support of the
volunteers and this community, and that's a fact," he said.
The Mississippi isn't the only river rising in Minnesota. Across the
state hundreds of volunteers, most likely including those from other
LDS congregations, spent the day building, repairing and monitoring
dikes and levees constructed to keep the rivers in their banks.
Authorities say that they can expect to keep up the vigilance for as
much as two to three more weeks, especially the Mississippi, until
the rivers begin to subside. News reports also indicate flooding on
the Red River of the North, the Minnesota River and the St. Croix
River.
Source:
Volunteers to the rescue
St Paul MN Pioneer Press 16Apr01 D1
By Patrick Sweeney: Staff Writer
Metro: Civilians help at airport; man missing in Shakopee
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