But it has not had services for a month because it stands isolated in floodwater. Pastor Robert Waite speaks of a dry lake that is now filled with 18 feet of water, isolating families who cannot get to their jobs. His ranchers have suffered great cattle loss, and 30 percent of their farmland is not tillable. Another tells how milk trucks can't get to farms because of flooded roads. Pastors and care givers are under great stress.
Chronic depression is widespread, and people are under severe emotional strain.
Elaine and I met with Jim Barclay, head of South Dakota Lutheran Social Services and Ray Engh, disaster coordinator, to discuss LDR's response to issues related to this record-breaking flooding. As the waters subside and houses become accessible, a volunteer coordinator will be named to enable clean up and repairs of homes and farm buildings, including rewiring of damaged and destroyed fencing. This morning, Elaine and I drove 75 miles north into Grand Forks, where the waters have receded enough to allow some local traffic. We describe the outpouring of prayers and financial support from across the country, and explain that the mission of Lutheran Disaster Response is to help people recover from disasters as they live through the different stages of chaos to recovery, as they live through the different phases of grief and loss. In the Grand Forks area we could clearly see entire neighborhoods still in water.