Minot, ND
Disaster Description
Minot is home to approximately 45,000 people. It was founded in 1886 when a railroad company stopped for the winter. Currently, Minot is considered to be a ‘boom town’ for its rapid growth due to a large air force base just north of the city and because oil was recently found. While the economy is seemingly thriving in the area, approximately two thirds of households live below national median standards with nearly 13 percent of the population living below the poverty line.
The Souris River, also known as the Mouse River, divides the city of Minot in half, north and south. In late June, record flooding devastated the city of Minot, forcing nearly a third of the residents to evacuate and leaving more than 4,000 homes and businesses heavily damaged.
MDS Response
MDS is working closely with the Bible Fellowship Church, a Mennonite Brethren congregation. The church was heavily damaged by floodwaters.
The Congregational United Church of Christ will host MDS volunteers. Mattresses have been brought in for all volunteers. Bath and shower facilities are located within the church. There is a large, fully stocked kitchen that MDS volunteers can use.
Photo Gallery
IN-and-MB-Vols
Volunteers from Indiana and Manitoba come together to rebuild the Bible Fellowship Church in Minot, ND.
Pulling-up-the-Floor
Volunteers pull up damaged flooring at the Bible Fellowship Church in Minot, ND. The church was flooded by 10 feet of water.
Another-load-of-Trash
Another load of trash sits outside of the Bible Fellowship Church in Minot, ND. The church was flooded and MDS volunteers are helping to clean out and rebuild.
Duane-Deckert-Pastor-of-Bible-Fellowship-Church--indicates-how-high-the-flood-waters-rose-up-on-the-church-pews
Duane Deckert, Pastor of the Bible Fellowship Church in Minot, shows how high the water rose on the pews.
Clients-Melodie-Brunk-and-Harding-Solid-with-Margarte-Kaufman-maker-of-the-quilt
Clients Harding and Melodie receive a quilted wall hanging from volunteer, Margaret Kaufman. Margaret made the quilt and was volunteering in Minot for the week.
Eldon-Yoder-and-Jeryl-Hollinger-hanging-drywall-in-a-stairwell
Volunteers Eldon and Jeryl hang drywall in a stairwell.
Gordon-Martens-fitting-drywall
Volunteer, Gordon Martens, fitting drywall at the Bible Fellowship Church.
Margaret-Kaufman-trims-plastic-on-windows-of-BF-church
Volunteer, Margaret Kaufman, trims plastic off the new windows at the Bible Fellowship Church.
The-MDS-cooks-Maria-Martens-and-Carolyn-Martens-Joan-Hagen-Cong-liason-and-Mary-Litwiller
The MDS cooks, Maria and Carolyn, with Congregational Liason, Joan, and Office Manager, Mary.
Rick and Josh installing a new door at Miss Joyces house
Rick and Josh install a new door at Miss Joyce's house in Minot.
Gordon and Ron installing doors at Ms Jeans house
Gordon and Ron installing doors at Ms. Jean's house.
David and Josh putting up sheet rock on stairs and Eric and Heathers house
David and Josh putting up sheetrock at Mr. Eric and Mrs. Heather's house.
Henry Abe with homeowner May Jean after the cabinets installed
Henry and Abe with homeowner, May Jean, after the cabinets are installed in her home.
Henry and David putting sheet rock up at Ms Kathryns
Henry and David putting up sheet rock in Ms. Kathryn's house.
Henry Esther and Anita spending time working on a puzzle
Henry, Esther and Anita spend some time in the evening working on a jigsaw puzzle.
Project Reports
Weekly Report for Minot
Thanks to the energy of the volunteers from Manitoba, despite the smaller group, the work at the Minot site continued to progress at a good rate this past week. A special thanks to Ryan Sprunger for his six weeks of construction...[more]
Map/Directions
Project statistics
Project Address:
Congregational United Church of Christ
430 N. Broadway
Minot, ND 58703
Tel: Office: (701) 509-3213
E-mail: minot@mds.mennonite.net
Project Director: Gerald and Grace Loeppky
Project status: Open
Volunteers to date: 555
Jobs Started: 75
Jobs Completed: 56
