The long road ahead: How to properly dispose of flood-related items

 

By Sarah Sorvaag

After weeks of filling sandbags and creating massive dikes, area residents are starting to wonder, what do we do now? There are many options available to Cass County residents who are ready to start taking down their dikes or are looking to schedule the deconstruction of their dirt dikes. Thought the threat of another crest has receded, there are still many necessary precautions homeowners need to take in order to prevent injury and harm to property.

Sandbags and Dikes

Areas such as Argusville and Harwood have been immersed in crest after crest by the Sheyenne River. The overland flooding from the west was also detrimental to the towns’ return to normalcy. Now that the river level has dramatically dropped, both mayors have begun considering the dike take-down options that would best meet their town’s needs.

Argusville mayor Darren Wetzel put in a request on behalf of the city to the core of engineers to have the clay throughout the area removed. The affected dikes are the ones by Richwood Estates and the enclosures in Argusville. It is still undetermined as to if the engineers will also be asked to remove sandbags from the city or if the residents will have to do it.

Harwood mayor Bill Rohrich explained that floodwaters near the city, along the interstate have dramatically decreased. There is still some water pressure along the city’s main dike in Rivertree Park. On Monday, April 27, the city began removing temporary dikes.

“So far so good. We haven’t lost any homes and hopefully everything is on the down-slide,” Rohrich stated.

He estimates that Harwood will still have to deal with excessive water for another three weeks. The permanent dike in Harwood had one bad spot according to Rohrich but has been maintained. City officials are unsure as to what will become of the sandbags.

“We’re not sure what we’re going to do with them. A few people have mentioned interest in coming and taking some of the sand. We haven’t made a decision though,” Rohrich said.

His advice to homeowners who are beginning to clean up their property is to have up-to-date tetanus shots and be careful.

“I’d advise people to not be in too big of a hurry. We’re going to be dealing with a lot of water for a long time. It’s better to be safe than sorry,” he said.

Personal Property

Repairing property is likely one of the most difficult tasks some Cass County residents are having to undergo. According to the National Flood Insurance Program’s website, there are several steps that homeowners must do following a flood in order to receive adequate compensation for destroyed property. The following are guidelines the NFIP suggests.

*If your home has suffered damage, call your insurance agent to file a claim.

*Check for structural damage before re-entering your home.

*Take photos of floodwater within your home and save any damaged personal property for insurance purposes.

*Make a list of damaged property or lost items. Also include the item’s purchase date and value with receipts.

*Keep the electricity off until a professional has inspected your system.

*Boil water for drinking and food preparation until authorities tell you that your water supply is safe.

*Wear gloves and boots to clean and disinfect. A pine-oil cleanser and bleach are the best options for cleaning.

If a home has not received massive damage due to flooding, there are still some safety measures needed before daily activities resume. It’s important to evaluate appliances for damage. If certain pieces of furniture need repair, the items should be stored in well-ventilated places until the homeowner is ready to fix the items. Wood veneered furniture is usually not worth the expense of repair. Upholstered furniture soaks up contaminants from floodwaters and should be cleaned by a professional.

The Community

Once personal property and cities have been cleaned of sandbags and dirt, people may be wondering, what can I help with next? Terri Wilhelm, Communications Specialist for North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), has many suggestions for how to help clean the community and landscape throughout Cass County. She estimates that volunteer groups for the Adopt-a-Highway Program will begin cleaning ditches prior to Memorial Day Weekend.

“Many groups have already called to see what the situation is out on the roadways in our area. Right now if the ditches are still saturated with water, it could be a couple of weeks before they are dry enough for volunteers to begin their work,” she said.

Wilhelm explained that the Adopt-a-Highway Program not only provides cleaner roadsides, but also saves on maintenance costs for the NDDOT, which can then transfer resources to other areas and enhance the state’s roads.

Melanie Maneval, NDDOT Fargo District coordinator, agrees that cleaner highways are beneficial for all North Dakotans.

“Clean roadways positively  reflect on the character of our citizens while providing community spirit and an avenue for citizens to become personally involved in creating a cleaner place to live. It’s a great way for people to show they care about their community.”

Wilhelm’s advice to volunteers is to dress appropriately and be weary of picking up certain items. The following is a list of NDDOT guidelines Wilhelm suggests volunteers adhere to.

*Wear light-colored clothing at all times when working on the right-of-way and wear heavy gloves. 

*Watch for footing. Wear substantial leather shoes or boots with ankle support. 

*Wear a hat and long sleeves to avoid sunburn. You may want to use a sunscreen lotion on sunny days. 

According to Maneval, up-to-date immunizations are always a good idea. She added that for safety reasons, it is always a good idea when working on the roadway to face the traffic instead of having your back to it. Other very important safety tips Maneval and Wilhelm suggest include:

*Do not attempt to remove unknown or suspected toxic/hazardous substances. This could include meth by-products such as containers with hoses duct taped to spouts, empty starter fluid cans, propane tanks with discolored valves, or coffee filters, or bags containing a grayish/white substance. Notify the Department of Transportation or the police of the location of such items immediately. 

*Do not enter the roadway or its shoulder areas, paved or unpaved, to pick up trash. 

*Do not pick up trash in the median of interstate highways. 

*Pick up pop bottles and similar containers only with great care. They may contain human waste. 

*Do not pick up discarded syringes, hypodermic needles, or broken glass.

“Safety is our number one priority. The NDDOT will provide safety compliant orange vests and orange trash bags to volunteers for higher visibility while they are working to keep our roadways clean. It is important that persons picking up litter anything they regard as hazardous, they should not pick it up, but should notify the DOT,” Wilhelm said.

Adopt-A-Highway volunteer groups need to contact the district which they reside. For instance in Cass County, volunteers would contact the Fargo District Office at 239-8900, for volunteers in other areas of the state there is contact information on the NDDOT Webpage under Adopt-A-Highway program at http://www.dot.nd.gov/public/adopt.htm.

See more safety tips at http://www.dot.nd.gov/public/adopt-safety.htm.