Midwest Flood Relief Efforts - 03-2009

Rain for Rent's Emergency Response to Red River Flood, ND

Bakersfield, CA - Today, Friday, March 27, 2009, the Red River, which flows north from Southeast North Dakota into Canada's Lake Winnipeg, reached water levels that hadn’t been seen in 112 years due to rain, snow, and ice that had been collecting in the river. In 1897, the Red River rose to 40.1 feet, currently it is at 40.63 feet, and is expected to crest to 43 feet on Saturday, March 28, at 24 feet above flood level.

Known throughout the Midwest to be liquid-handling solution experts, Rain for Rent deployed their North Dakota Sales Representative to the scene of the flood where the Fargo Public Works Director was communicating with the Governor of North Dakota, which resulted in the Governor’s request for eight industrial Power Prime™ pumps to be flown into Fargo, ND, from a Rain for Rent branch in Wyoming.

The pumps originated in Rifle, CO, where two hours from the airport they were challenged by heavy snow and required a police escort and three snow plows to get through snow-covered roads in order to be loaded in Casper, WY. One C-1 30 military plane has been dedicated to make three round trips from Casper, WY, to Fargo, ND. The initial flight arrives at the Fargo airport around 7:00 pm Friday, March 27, with cargo consisting of:

• Eight  12” DV300 Power Prime™ Pumps to handle 6,500 GPM
• Two Rain for Rent service trucks
• Five Rain for Rent installers and mechanics from Rain for Rent’s Rifle, CO branch
• Pipe, hose and fittings

The Rain for Rent crew and National Guard, among others, are scheduled to work in 24-hour shifts installing the pumping systems to help save the city from potential destruction. Skilled and dedicated personnel have been recruited from around Rain for Rent’s national locations including their SWAT (Sewer & Water A-Team) division; installers and mechanics from the Rifle, CO, Minot, ND, and Minneapolis, MN branches.

To alleviate the flooding and high water, the Power Prime™ pumps will be set on levees and in neighborhoods where the water will be pumped away from the communities and into the Red River that flows north into Lake Winnipeg. 

The concerted effort of the local inhabitants and volunteers has been and will continue to be tremendous.  In the past six days, 6 million sandbags have been loaded, transported, and hand-stacked to protect property! A Rain for Rent Sales Representative has said, “It’s a life and death drama, yet with a ‘Get ‘er done’ attitude that typifies the Midwest.”

Rain for Rent’s Minneapolis, MN, branch personnel have been in Fargo, ND, since March 9, participating in flood preparedness meetings with USACE, FEMA, State, County and the City of Fargo’s Director of Public Works in attendance. 

An original pump order placed two weeks ago was for seven pumps; at this time, there are thirty-eight pumps (20 DV150, 10 DV200, and 8 DV300 Power Prime™ pumps) in Fargo capable of moving 150,000 GPM.

Rain for Rent’s Midwest branches have been providing flood emergency response throughout the region, including providing a 2,500 GPM pumping system to draw down the waters in the City of Davenport, ND, and a 30 MGD bypass system for the city of Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

For sales and rental inquiries, contact Rain for Rent, available 24/7, nationwide, at 800-742-7246, or visit us online at rainforrent.com.