SHELTER, SPECIAL NEEDS, University of Mary

3/27/09:

U-Mary to be taking care of 200 Fargo flood evacuees

Bismarck, ND — The University of Mary, America’s Leadership University, will be taking care of approximately 200 evacuees from the Red River area flood. That number has decreased since earlier reports. Most of the displaced people will be elderly and nursing home residents. The Fargo residents will be airlifted into Bismarck this morning.

“Serving others is what America’s Leadership University is all about and with our resources we are more than happy to help,” commented Brent Winiger, vice president of financial affairs, whose office is in charge of the physical plant. “This will be an unprecedented effort from all faculty, staff, students, and physical plant personnel, We also need a substantial number of nursing students, faculty volunteers and Bismarck-Mandan community members who have health care and nursing experience to help provide for the evacuees.”

The University of Mary athletic department is being used as the headquarters for the relief effort.

If you are able to volunteer your assistance as a health care professional please contact (701) 355-8200.

If you are able to volunteer in a general capacity please contact (701) 355-8302.

The University of Mary will be using the McDowell Activity Center, Leach Field House and the Richard Tschider Center to house the evacuees.

Volunteers have already begun unloading cots that arrived at 8:15 a.m. this morning.

For more information please contact Director of Communications Tom Ackerman at (701) 471-5698 or Barbara Montgomery at 355-8013.

Media personnel must first get permission from the Director of Communications before taking photos or conduct interviews with patients.

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There will be no classes Monday, March 30, at both the Grand Forks and Fargo locations of the University of Mary School of Accelerated and Distance Education.

Due to the flood efforts in Fargo-Moorhead, the Fargo Center will be closed and unavailable for normal business activities, Friday, March 27. We anticipate opening on Monday at 8 a.m. and will be in contact if that changes.

March 25, 2009

Emergency authorities are calling for evacuations in many parts of Bismarck-Mandan. We anticipate that some U-Mary students living in town will be among those who will have to leave their homes and apartments.

You can help!

If you have an empty bed in your on-campus student residence or if you would be willing to have a mattress moved in your room for a U-Mary student to stay, please leave a note on your residence director’s door, along with a cell phone number.

University of Mary students, faculty and staff who are in need of a place to stay due to the flood may contact the University of Mary Residence Life Department for Assistance at the following numbers :

Before 4:30 p.m. please contact Lana Anderson at 355-8217 or 355-8265 or landerson@umary.edu

After 4:30 p.m. please contact: Anne Marie Werthmann at 426-1780 or awerthmann@umary.edu.

There are a limited number of residence hall rooms available for students who are in need of a place to stay. The Residence Life Department is also keeping a list of faculty and staff willing to host other faculty, staff and those students who have families in their home. Some of the host families can also take pets.

Those able to provide accommodations for those in need are asked to call Lana or Anne Marie at the numbers above.