Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Is a picture worth a thousand words?




Last week I spent some time in Minot, North Dakota visiting my Air Force son, Sean.  We rode past the damaged houses and were shocked and saddened by the devastation caused by last summer’s flood.  I had heard about it and Sean had helped with sandbag positioning but nothing could prepare me for the actual areas affected. 

House after house lies empty with doors agape and windows missing. Many lost their belongings and they sit rotting on the streets or hanging from the bushes along the no longer swollen river. To make matters even more difficult the oil boom in North Dakota has brought hundreds of oil workers and is making it even more difficult to find housing.  I read in the local paper that unscrupulous investors have purchased houses and have doubled rents!  Why is it during disasters there is always someone who is looking to profit?? 

I talked to one woman who told me that she managed to get most of her things out in the 48 hours they had before the river overtook its banks. Many of her neighbors did not.  And almost no one carried flood insurance.

The pictures posted here are only a sampling of thousands.  If you can, I recommend that you donate to Minot flood relief.



http://minotredcross.org/











17 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

Poor people who have lost everything. And the unscrupulous profiteers cash in on everything! So sad. Valerie

Carrie Waller Watercolors said...

Isn't it awful! We have friends stationed at Minot, your images are heartbreaking!

Netty said...

This is so terrible, but unfortunately there will always be people who profit from others misery....so sad. x

Wanda said...

Oh that is so sad. Your pictures tell a story, but I'm sure the emotions of the tragedy can't be filmed.

Thanks for sharing...will say a prayer for those families.

Craftymoose Crafts said...

You can hear about it or watch it on the news, but there is something about seeing it in person that makes it more real. I'll keep those families in my prayers.

Magic Love Crow said...

Horrible!! I don't understand why it takes so long to clean up these areas and to rebuild? Help the people out!

Gail H. Ragsdale said...

The same thing when the 4 tornadoes hit us. You see it on the news and it's terrible, but much more in person. Then the crooks move in and take advantage of those in shock and desperate for help. We still have areas of tornado damage in our County, may take another year to clean-up providing another large tornado doesn't pass our way again.

Lee Pierce said...

The loss is devastating. Thanks for sharing the images from your trip. My thoughts and prayers for these folks.

Maggie said...

How very sad that so many people lost their homes and all of their belongings. And it always makes me mad that there's always someone waiting to profit from other's tragic losses.

Heather said...

Wow, that's hearbreaking...devastating floods. Thank you for sharing that with us. I am glad you are back...i have been sick, so i haven't been around much - HUGS!

Catherine Denton said...

This pulls my heartstrings. Thanks for sharing the link.

P.S. Wanted you to know I love visiting your blog. I'd visit more often but for some reason your site won't always load on my computer. Being NOT tech-savvy, I haven't been able to figure out why. :(

Anonymous said...

I missed you at PPF today and came to see if maybe you had left a painting here anyway. But thse photos are really something. Seeing where the water had come to on the houses was alarming. God bless your son for his helping.

Anonymous said...

Très souvent, je vais voir ce blog. Il est très agréable pour moi. Merci de l'auteur

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Abby / Linda said...

Thanks for sharing the conditions in Minot.

Unknown said...

My heart is so sad when these natural disasters happen...very scary....I pray for these people....Thank you for raising awareness.....

Mary Hysong said...

IT's a shame so many lost so much; why are is the gov. not helping rebuild? Would certainly make for more jobs! Thanks for stopping by my place! Happy PPF!

Leovi said...

Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words. A good report, but very sad.

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