Rescue crew Neil Rudolph of Brainerd (on right) ventured by boat through high water on March 26, to retrieve some household items from his mother's house, which had succumbed to the flooding Crow Wing River. The house, located along Co. Rd. 28 between Motley and Staples World photo by Dawn Schimpp Timbs Pillager, does not have a basement; and Rudolph said that fortunately the water began to recede before it could reach the main level. When he stepped out of the boat near the house, Rudolph said that the water was up to his chest. Although thousands of volunteers traveled to Fargo and Moorhead last week to help Red River flood victims, there were many others that lent a helping hand to homeowners living along the swollen Crow Wing.

"It's been amazing to see this community come together in a time of need," said Kerry Swenson, Emergency Management Director for the Cass County Sheriff's Department.

Without the help of so many volunteers, Swenson added, more Morrison and Cass County homes would have been damaged in last week's flooding of the Crow Wing River.

Swenson reported that in Becker Township, approximately four homes were hit hard by the overfl owing river.

"Those basements each had at least two feet of water in them," Swenson said. "We finished pumping those out yesterday afternoon (March 29)," he added.

Swenson said he was amazed by the numbers of people who pitched in to help.

"I can't say enough about the Motley Fire Department, the Staples Fire Department; and so many other volunteers who stopped by to help with the sandbagging," Swenson said.

Thanks to their help, he added, a few homes were saved and the damage to others was minimized.

For some homeowners,

however, saving their

house from flood waters "just wasn't in the cards,"

Swenson said.

Even a well-built dike and boat-loads of sandbags didn't keep the river from crashing through the basement of one home in Motley.

"The dike gave way Thursday night, I think," Swenson said. "There was nothing we could do."

Swenson praised the efforts of Phil Bjerga, Motley; and Hengel Construction of Pillager, who hauled sand wherever it was needed. "Those people were 'Johnny on the spot'," Swenson said.

Now that the water levels are receding, the clean-up will begin, Swenson said.

"We've got clean-up kits from the Red Cross that we'll use. We'll start getting those distributed and then I think I'll call it a day," he added with a laugh.

Along County Road 28 in Morrison County, a few homes were also hit hard by the flooding Crow Wing, thanks to a massive icejam between Motley and Pillager.

"We usually sit about 60 feet from the river," said Arnold Olson, looking at the water that was now flowing just a few feet beneath his family's back deck last Thursday, March 26.

By Friday, Arnold said, the water was all around their house and detached garage.

"Luckily, the house is up high enough that only the basement got water in it," said Arnold's wife, Shirley.

This isn't the first time the Olsons have had to pump water out of their basement.

"We were here 10 years ago, too, when the Crow Wing flooded," Arnold said.

Shirley said they learned from that experience and had a sub-pump put in their basement.

"We've got it pumping every 17 seconds, trying to keep the water down," Arnold said. "I just hope it doesn't burn out."

The Olsons were able to stay in their home, which they were grateful for. They've brought as many things from the basement as possible to the upstairs. Arnold also strapped down their propane tank outside, hoping it wouldn't float away.

"A couple of our neighbors had to find temporary housing," Arnold said. "We feel lucky to still be here."

Neil Rudolph of Brainerd, borrowed Arnold's row-boat to rescue some of his mother's belongings which were trapped in her water-logged home a few doors down from the Olsons.

Neil said that the driveway to his mother's home had begun to fill with water March 24. By March 26, the river was up to the front steps.

"We had the gas turned off Wednesday morning and the electric turned off on Thursday," Neil said. The water had risen quickly; and sandbagging would have been futile, he added.

Luckily, no one was hurt and most of the house (which does not have a basement) had remained dry, Neil said.

By March 30, the water had begun to recede and Neil was hoping his mother could be back in her home by the first of April.

"From the looks of things up river, this may be postponed," Neil said, adding that there were a few large ice dams that could potentially cause more flooding, as could the March 31 snowstorm.

Arnold said that he was amazed at the enormity of the slabs of ice that had floated downstream past his and Shirley's home.

"Friday night, an ice

sheet larger than a house

came crashing by," he said. "It sounded like thunder."

Although the basement will require a lot of cleanup, Arnold says he can't get discouraged. "These things are going to happen. You can't let it get you down."