Community Embraces ACC During Flood Fight

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More than a hundred Jamestown College students volunteered to help with sandbagging efforts at the Center.

Anne Carlsen Center students and staff are thankful for the outpouring of community support during the Center's evacuation and flood fight.

The ACC Campus in Jamestown was evacuated on March 23 due to concerns about the threat of overland flooding. In less than five hours, 56 students, medical equipment, beds and essential supplies were brought to four locations in Jamestown.

Twenty students were welcomed at the Jamestown Civic Center, 19 students at the Jamestown Hospital, 12 students at Heritage Centre-Ave Maria, and five students at Hi-Acres Manor. ACC staff members were assigned to each relocation site, providing continuity of care.

Meanwhile, back on campus, round-the-clock efforts to protect the campus were underway, and community support played a key role. On March 23 and 24, ACC staff and volunteers - including more than a hundred Jamestown College students - worked diligently to sandbag all of the entrances to ACC's main building.

"Because of the volunteers who helped sandbag around the Center and load heavy items during the evacuation, staff was able to explain the situation to students and comfort them during the transition," said Marlena Maddock, an ACC teacher.

The next day, efforts to pump water away from the ACC Campus were accelerated with the arrival of several large water pumps and members of the ND National Guard. Guard members worked with ACC staff, Burlington Northern, and emergency personnel in an attempt to keep overland flooding from swallowing the Center buildings. Red Cross and the Salvation Army provided our flood-fighting team with warm meals and encouragement. Businesses lent equipment for the sandbagging operations and the removal of essential items from the Center.

Later that week, the city began establishing a series of levees around Jamestown, including one along the ACC Campus (which is near the rising James River). When the city announced plans to begin sandbagging operations on April 2 at the Jamestown Civic Center, the Center began looking for a new temporary home for the 20 students at the Civic Center.

"We consider our students' needs and safety first and foremost, and there were some air quality concerns associated with the sandbagging operations," said Anne Carlsen Center CEO Dan Howell. "We also wanted to assist the city with their flood-fighting efforts by freeing up that space at the Civic Center."

St. James Basilica and St. John's Academy welcomed 20 ACC students to Zebedee Center. Here, Jimmy unpacks some of his belongings after he and his classmates arrived on April 1.

ACC students were warmly welcomed at the Zebedee Center at St. John's Academy (affiliated with St. James Basilica). On April 1, ACC staff moved students' beds and supplies to Zebedee Center, and students followed in the afternoon.

ACC has ample space in the Zebedee Center, which St. John's Academy normally uses for its gym classes. In addition to bathrooms, showers and a kitchen space, the building provides adequate room for sleeping, therapy sessions and educational services.

ACC's new hosts say they are glad to be of assistance, and consider the arrangement to be an extension of a rich tradition of working together.

"It's a privilege because St. James Basilica has long had a relationship with the Anne Carlsen Center," said Fr. Al Bitz, pastor/rector at St. James Basilica. "For many years, staff has brought some of the students to Sunday Eucharist."

A number of Jamestown churches have assisted the Anne Carlsen Center during its evacuation. ACC therapists are serving outpatient clients at Atonement Lutheran in Jamestown. The Atonement Lutheran (K-6) youth group, "Wings," made prayer boxes for each of the ACC students. Trinity Lutheran Church opened its doors to education staff, allowing the Center to hold school during the day there for the 17 students who are currently residing at Hi-Acres and Heritage Centre. There is enough space for classes to meet separately, allowing students to focus on studies specific to their age level.

ACC Community Services is still operating as well, thanks to kindness in the community. Stutsman County Housing Authority is providing office space to Jamestown-based Community Services staff.

Cinema Twin in the Jamestown Mall brought smiles to many of the Anne Carlsen Center students' faces when, last week, the business made arrangements for a special showing of a movie for ACC.

The new friendships made in the last couple of weeks have also created a lot of joy. Residents of Heritage-Centre and Hi-Acres have formed close bonds with students, and there's talk of continuing the connections even when students and staff return to campus.