The heavens opened up, devastation came, and friendships bloomed: Commemorating the Grand Forks Flood of 1997 Published April 12, 2007 By Tech. Sgt. Rob Mims 319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Ten years ago this month, eastern North Dakota experienced the eighth blizzard of the winter snow season. The blizzards knocked out power, closed roads and shut down the base and the city; however, the worst was yet to come. After the blizzards piled up more than 98 inches of snow, hope for a gradual meltdown diminished. There wasn't even the typical mid-winter thaw. Unfortunately, a rapid snow melt mixed with the 117 inches of snow melting in the Fargo, N.D., region, deluged the northern-flowing Red River, forcing it out of its banks; thus the began the "100-year flood." Blizzards Andy, Betty, Christopher, Doris, Elmo, Franzi and Gust were enough to pile up records amounts of snow in the area. As the snow began to melt, the Red River, separating Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, Minn., began to spill out of its banks. Most people thought winter was over, and sand bagging operations could begin in earnest to help prevent major flooding along the Red River. Base Airmen participated in a 24-hour sandbagging marathon producing 70,000 sandbags to help get ahead. Their efforts continued until operations were shut down by Mother Nature's final blow to the region ... Blizzard Hannah. The three-day storm was the worst of the season. It began with freezing rain turning into a heavy ice storm and severe winds, which tore down more than 3,000 utility poles in the area, knocking out electricity and phone service. Power was out on base for more than 72 hours and for as long as nine days in rural areas. The ice was followed by more than a foot of snow. As radio and television towers collapsed from the weight of the ice, so did the information flow out to the public. In preparation for what was surely to come, on April 17, Brig. Gen. Kenneth Hess, 319th Air Refueling Wing commander at the time, ordered the more than 700 base personnel and their families who lived inside the city limits to evacuate. Family members either left the area or moved into on-base temporary housing or lodging, while single members were put up in unoccupied dorm rooms. After the call for help came from the mayors of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, most base organizations went to minimum manning and helped fill sandbags. The next day, base personnel took over all sandbagging operations in town to help relieve residents to build dikes, defend their homes or businesses, or evacuate their families. Later that afternoon, it was apparent the sandbagging operations were a moot point. The base began planning to receive and shelter more than 10,000 evacuees from the local area. The first of the evacuees arrived that evening. Mandatory evacuations were ordered in most of the city April 19. Within an hour of the order, the first shelter on base was filled to capacity. At 5 a.m. April 20, Red River High School, more than a mile-and-a-half from the river became inundated with flood water. All evacuees at the school were moved to the base. All told, the base housed more than 3,600 evacuees in the three-Bay Hangar, Carl Ben Eielson Elementary School and in military quarters with base residents. In eastern North Dakota, dikes holding back floodwaters began to give way, storm sewers became overtaxed and flash flooding became a problem in some areas. More than 90 percent of Grand Forks and all of East Grand Forks was flooded, including United Hospital (now Altru). As it evacuated, the hospital on base became the sole medical facility in the entire Grand Forks area. The hospital ramped up to operate 24 hours a day, filled more than 2,500 prescriptions, performed eight surgeries, administered hundreds of tetanus shots and delivered 12 babies. Nearly every organization played a major part during the flood and operations afterward. Some include: The 319th Services Squadron provided three meals a day to evacuees in addition to operating the dining facility; provided receipt, warehousing and distribution of donated goods; and provided lifejackets, boats and camping equipment to downtown agencies. The 319th Transportation Squadron deployed to the city with eight dump trucks, three front-end loaders, a suburban passenger vehicle and six light carts; used all available buses on base for transportation to and from relief areas; and many drivers. After several of the storms, many base civil engineers went to work helping local workers clear highways. The 319th Civil Engineer Squadron was forced to cut off the base water supply in order to avoid contamination. Rural water was delivered to the base until the squadron was able to implement multiple reverse osmosis systems to augment the base supply and city reserves. The squadron also stopped a potential base evacuation by maintaining power at a local ammonia plant. As fire broke out in downtown Grand Forks, the base fire department reacted by sending a P15, which is the largest fire truck in the Air Force inventory, along with firefighters. The truck provided vital water pumping capability needed to extinguish the blaze. After the 22 hour fire fight, 11 historic buildings were burned, destroying the heart of the city. To help support presidential and VIP visits, the 319th Communications Squadron jumped into action setting up satellite communications packages and telephone packages for relief organizations. Several North Dakota Guard units, along with the 79th Rescue Flight of the former 321st Missile Group here, provided helicopter evacuations throughout the region. After all was said and done, millions of dollars were spent; millions of dollars in damage done and nearly every life in the region was affected. Central High School and Red River High School students, whose regular junior-senior prom was cancelled, was still able to enjoy their event because the base populace hosted the prom on the base. The base donated the use of the three-Bay Hangar and the spouse's clubs helped decorate it. Jessica McClintoc, a party dress designer and former school teacher, donated 350 prom dresses for the girls and a men's formal wear company loaned 250 tuxedos. What is a prom without music? Soul Asylum, a rock band from Minnesota, provided tunes for the event without charge. During the flood and through the aftermath, the base's relationship with the community changed from friendship to family. The base worked hand-in-hand with the cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks to battle the forces of Mother Nature. The blizzards and the flood were devastating to many; however, what rose from the huge piles of snow, the murky flood waters and the ashes of the burned building was a solid family Mother Nature will never sway.