On Monday afternoon, July 7, 2008, tornadoes tore through the commuities of Belcourt and Rolla in north central North Dakota. Officials are not yet sure if the same tornado hit both towns or if there were two tornadoes; however, the tornado that hit Belcourt is estimated as an EF 2 and the other that impacted Rolla was an EF3.Both of these communities have been severely impacted. Damage to homes is extensive. Many displaced families have found shelter with friends and family and others are currently staying in area motels, courtesy of the Red Cross.
Damage estimates are preliminary, but at least 28 homes and property have been damaged in Belcourt and around 18 homes in both communities have been destroyed.
The biggest need right now is finding housing for these families. Efforts are underway to locate temporary trailers through various federal agencies.
If you are interested in helping, please use the contact information below:
To help clean up: Call Rolla City Hall at (701) 477-3610 or Belcourt’s emergency management office at (701) 477-2674 or (701) 477-2693.
To donate money:
Call the Mid-Dakota Red Cross in Minot at 800-323-3179.
Call Minot Salvation Army at 701-838-0635.
Turtle Mountain Chippewa Disaster Fund
c/o Turtle Mountain State Bank
10 W Main St, PO Box 310
Belcourt, ND 58316
Rolla Tornado Disaster Fund
c/o Dacotah Bank
PO Box 789
Rolla, ND 58367
Tornado victims: Care for yourself
Those stricken by the tornado should keep a few things in mind, authorities said.
- Insurance coverage: Homeowners need to take steps to prevent further damage. They should document losses with photos and receipts.
- Report damage: In Belcourt, call the emergency management office at the numbers above. In Rolla, call the Rolette County assessor’s office at (701) 477-5666.
- Take care with cleanup: Be sure your last tetanus shot was no more than 10 years ago. Vaccination updates are available at the public health office.
- If food in the freezer doesn’t have ice crystals on it, it’s probably bad.
- When you throw it out, be sure it’s secure in garbage containers to avoid attracting rodents.
Source: Grand Forks Herald - http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=81467
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8 comments:
Many displaced families have found shelter with friends and family and others are currently staying in area motels, courtesy of the Red Cross.
A correction needs to be made on this statement. Some of the displaced families that have no where to go are staying in a motel, courtesy of the Turtle Mountain casino. The Red Cross is assisting the families to meet some of their basic emergency needs, however the casino is helping the displaced families by providing a place to stay.
Thanks for the clarification!
The following is good information...
Tornadoes and Children
The intense anxiety and fear that often follow a disaster can be especially troubling for children, especially if children were victims of the disaster or were separated from their families. Some may regress and demonstrate younger behaviors such as thumb sucking or bed wetting. Children may be more prone to nightmares and fear of sleeping alone. Performance in school may suffer. Other changes in behavior patterns may include throwing tantrums more frequently, or withdrawing and becoming more solitary.
There are several things parents and others who care for children can do to help alleviate the emotional consequences of trauma, including the following:
- Spend more time with children and let them be more dependent on you during the months following the trauma - for example, allowing your child to cling to you more often than usual. Physical affection is very comforting to children who have experienced trauma.
- Provide play experiences to help relieve tension. Younger children in particular may find it easier to share their ideas and feelings about the event through non-verbal activities such as drawing.
- Be available and encourage older children to ask questions they may have, as well as sharing their thoughts and feelings with you and with one another. This helps reduce their confusion and anxiety related to the trauma. Respond to questions in terms they can comprehend. Reassure them repeatedly that you care about them and that you understand their fears and concerns.
- Keep regular schedules for activities such as eating, playing and going to bed to help restore a sense of security and normalcy, even if your family has been relocated to a shelter or other temporary housing.
-Provide safe opportunities for children to help others – helping others offers a sense of control and can help children feel better about themselves.
- Reduce the number of times children see the trauma on the news. Repeatedly watching broadcasts of the disaster can re-traumatize children.
When should children seek professional help?
Many children are able to cope effectively with the emotional and physical demands brought about by a natural disaster by using their own support systems. It is not unusual, however, to find that serious problems persist and continue to interfere with daily living. With children, continual and aggressive emotional outbursts, serious problems at school, preoccupation with the traumatic event, continued and extreme withdrawal, and other signs of intense anxiety or emotional difficulties all point to the need for professional assistance. A qualified mental health professional can help children and their parents understand and deal with thoughts, feelings and behaviors that result from trauma.
© 2005 American Psychological Association
DISASTER REACTIONS CHECKLIST
Disaster affects people in a variety of ways. All of these responses are normal reactions to an abnormal situation, which can persist for weeks or months after the disaster.
Disaster can affect you physically...
Changes in appetite and digestive problems
Difficulty sleeping
Fatigue and lack of energy
Headaches or other aches and pains
Allergies and sinus problems
Colds and flu
Disaster can affect you mentally and emotionally...
Irritability and anger
Feeling down or depressed
Apathy
Suspiciousness
Crying for no apparent reason
Frustration
Feeling powerless over the future
Feeling overwhelmed
Moodiness
Irritability
Anxiety about the future
Guilt
Isolation from friends and family
Disaster can affect your children...
Clinging to caregivers
Reluctance to go to bed
Nightmares
Enactment of the disaster in play
Crying
Withdrawal
Refusal to leave home
Problems at school or day care
Inability to concentrate
Bed wetting, thumb sucking, etc.
(Information provided by the North Dakota Psychological Association Disaster Response Network)
COPING WITH DISASTER
Take care of your body...
Eat nutritious meals on a regular schedule
Take a walk or get some other exercise on a regular basis
Try to establish a consistent sleep pattern
Avoid overuse of alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, and drugs not prescribed by a physician
Remember that taking care of yourself gives you the energy necessary to take care of others
Spend time with others...
Have coffee with a friend
Talk about your feelings; others probably experience the same feelings
Take the time to relax with friends and family
Get engaged in group activities, even though you feel tired or too busy
Meet with a spiritual advisor or pastor
Actively cope with problematic emotions...
Focus on your strengths and coping skills; you have made it through tough times before
Take another look at your goals; make them realistic
Set aside a "worry time" each day and postpone your worries until that time
Expect and allow times of poor concentration and irritability
Allow yourself permission and time to grieve
Move from the mindset of "How can I fix this?" to "How can I cope?"
Recognize that anxiety, powerlessness, and hopelessness are natural responses to disaster
Engage in prayer, meditation, or other spiritual practices
Help others in your community...
Ask your friends and neighbors how they are doing, and share your own feelings
Be tolerant of irritability, poor concentration, and other common reactions to stress
Maintain a friendly attitude; a smile can go a long way toward brightening someone's day
Offer to help a friend or neighbor who has been impacted by the disaster
Seek help from a health or mental health professional when…
Symptoms are highly distressing or life-threatening (persistent hopelessness, suicidal thoughts,
disorientation, extreme emotional reactions, self-neglect)
Symptoms worsen, or persist at a high level without improving, for several weeks
Other life circumstances intensify stress (loss of a loved one, divorce, financial crisis)
(Information provided by the North Dakota Psychological Association Disaster Response Network)
The following was submitted by the Department of Human Services.
Food Assistance Program Replacement Benefits Are AVAILABLE for Affected Households
Program clients who lost food due to tornado damage or the resulting power outages can APPLY.
WHO: Food Assistance (Food Stamp) Program clients whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the tornadoes, or whose homes are located in areas affected by the resulting power outages (reported by local utility companies)
WHAT: Can request Replacement benefits. It's EASY. Just report your loss and sign an affidavit form.
WHERE:
•Rolette County Social Service Office, Rolla, N.D.
•Tribal Emergency Management Office, Belcourt, N.D.
•BIA Social Services Office, Belcourt, N.D.
WHEN: July 11 – July 17, 2008
LOST EBT CARD?
No problem. Individuals with damaged, destroyed, or misplaced EBT cards can obtain a replacement card at the Rolette County Social Service Office.
FOR INFORMATION contact Rolette County Social Services at 701-477-3141, or the N.D. Department of Human Services at 800-755-2716 or ND Relay TTY 800-366-6888.
Disaster mental health services available for Rolette County tornado victims
Counseling and other disaster mental health services are available to residents of Rolette County who were affected by the July 7 tornadoes.
People who may be struggling with the effects of the tornadoes and resulting damage and who are having difficulties such as anxiety, depression, stress or other mental health concerns can access mental health treatment services through the Quentin Burdick Memorial Hospital in Belcourt, N.D., or through the N.D. Department of Human Services’ Lake Region Human Service Center outreach office in Rolla.
To access services through the IHS hospital, call 701-477-8658 or 701-477-8659, or after hours, call the emergency room at 701-477-8450 or 8460.
Lake Region Human Service Center’s Rolla outreach office is located at 113 Main Avenue. Walk-ins are welcome. People can also call 701-477-8272 to schedule an appointment.
The human service center also has a 24-Hour Crisis Line at 701-662-5050. Collect calls are accepted. During regular business hours, the Lake Region Human Service Center in Devils Lake can be reached at 1-888-607-8610 or TTY 701-665-2211.
Mental health professionals are working together with local emergency officials to determine and respond to needs. Available services may include individual, group, or family therapy for adults and children impacted by the tornado.
Helpful information from the ND Department of Health:
http://www.ndhan.gov/emergency/viewEmer.asp?ID=10
Please correct the URL link on the photos to http://rolla.nd.utma.com/Rolla_Tornado/rolla_tornado_menu.htm
This link provides coverage of the Rolette County Tornados and also information provided by this blog.
Curt
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