On 16 Apr 1997, Mark Van Essen wrote:

> Some of you have been asking about the flooding up here.  It's getting
> ugly.  If you want to check it out, go here:
>
>     http://www.scc.und.edu/flood/
>
> Dry for now, thank you!

Not any more he's not!  Well, actually, he's dry, but his house isn't.

This is his brother John.  Mark asked me to relay a message to MMD
letting people know what's going on.

He was sandbagging across the street with the other neighborhood
residents for three days straight, but on Friday, April 18, the dike
gave way nearby, and an emergency evacuation was ordered.  So he got
out with his two kids, the dog, the van and whatever they happened
to have with them.

Based on news footage and announced river heights, Mark thinks he
probably has 3 feet of water covering his first floor.  Unfortunately,
that means there's probably water 3 feet up onto and into his pianos.

He'll be staying at our cabin just outside Brainerd until he's
allowed to go back home (at least 2-3 weeks, but probably longer
since his house was among those nearest the river).

I'll be watching his email and relaying messages.

> Mark Van Essen
> East Grand Forks, Minnesota
> Across the street from the Red River of the North!  :(

Now *in* the Red River of the North!  D-:}

    John Van Essen <vanes002@umn.edu>