NBC ND News Team Helps Minot Homeowners Clean | Video

Eric Steltzer | 7/28/2011

People from all over North Dakota are coming to Minot to lend a helping hand. Today, part of that volunteer crew included our NBC North Dakota News family.

While those of us in Minot are no stranger to the debris-lined streets as the cleanup begins, those from other parts of the state are seeing it for the first time.

Today was the first day that some have seen anything like the devastation this flood caused.

The Wald family has been busy gutting their house since they were able to get back in, and they had been doing it on their own.

Minot resident Jordan Wald said, "Basically its just been me and my dad, my finance, my mom comes when she can and my brother comes after he closes the business so its basically just been us."

The KFYR-TV news crew left the news room in Bismarck and came to Minot to work, and showed up on the Walds` front step. They left their cameras and microphones behind, laced up their boots and picked up their construction gear.

"Its only one day for us, but these people will be here tonight and everyday to fix this. For us to take one day out of our schedule to come help; I think it`s a good thing," said weekend sport anchor Scott Westerberg.

Country Morning Today Weatherman Cliff Naylor said: "This is what life is all about. You know if someone needs a helping hand you extend one. I`m sure if the shoe were on the other foot, if Bismarck got flooded, I`m sure people from all over will come help."

None of this would have been possible without the Catholic United Response team. They provided transportation, along with gloves, masks, generators, hammers and crowbars -- everything needed to get the job done. They work with unaffiliated volunteers and try to help in any disaster situation.

"Its just a few bright rays of light on a dark situation and you know the more rays of light that come in here from across the the state or throughout Minot, things are going to lighten up," said Wald.

The Bismarck team will be back in the newsroom tomorrow, but their trip to Minot will change how they perceive disasters forever.

The Catholic United Response team says more volunteers are needed to help the cleanup. To volunteer or make donations go to
http://www.united-we-help.org// target="_blank">united-we-help.org or call the Minot Recovery Center at 347-1577.

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