(Spring thaw and heavy rains push the Red 
River to record crests)

(Roads in and out of Oslo are cut off as rising 
floodwater completely surrounds the small 
Minnesota town)

Our population is only 352.
Our school isn't in operation anymore.

We have a lot of elderly people and therefore 
we don't have the bodies here.

for the sandbagging for all those other things.

And, uhm, that's a big problem for us.

It's a constants struggle, both with Number 
One and 54 being closed off.

Were like an island.

And, uhm, normally when you have the water 
coming up and then it recedes say within a 
week or so, it's not bad.

But now this is our third week going on, uh, 
being isolated

Again we're going through something I've 
never ever gone before.

We wanted to take all the precautionary 
measures that we could to keep people safe 
and uh, not panic.

Of  course there were many tours on the dike 
looking to see what had to be extra.

They had to build it up three or four feet.

There was a lot of, uh, they had to cut the 
railroad tracks east of town here, so that uhm

that had to be built up there so there hasn't 
been any train travel going through.

One thing that's very noticeable is how it 
affects our city as far as the economy.

When you feel that we've got both roads that 
are closed off

business does not go on like it usually does.

And it's hard for people when they can't get 
out.

For instance, the fire department operating the 
airboat
Some of those people were going 24,36 
hours.

Getting supplies in taking people back and 
forth. Uh, the mail!

Bringing people into the bank so that business 
could stay open.

We have recently purchase airboat and that 
has been a life saver this year.

And not just to our community, but to all the 
rural areas.

And, uh, what made my heart feel good was 
the Salvation Army

It brought in Easter baskets and to see the 
excitement of those children it was unreal.

What I'm finding out in this particular flood 
communication planning and do it in the early 
stages.

Don't wait till, uh, that water is coming up and 
then all of a sudden trying to do all of  these 
things.

We had the National Guard in and Governor 
Pawlenty, and uh,
Congressman Collin Peterson was down here 
and we discussed an evacuation plan.

And, uh, then we got that out to the public.

Everybody got a letter, and it was on we've 
got an info channel so every day they know 
that they can get the updated information 
there.

They were reassured that we would get them 
out.

And there again that's my main concern, the 
safety of the people.