Ya know, although at times, trying to figure out what to blog about was a big pain in the butt, it wasn't all that bad. A lot of interaction for an online class, so that was very nice. And it made me actually pay attention to news and current events again. Also, getting deep into any story, linking everything you possibly could, therefore you're on 10 different sites or better before the end of the blog.
Onto the task at hand. . . as for what is going on with my crisis communication paper is that I have gathered up extra information, which I am sure is in the book or in the lectures. . . But the general manager at my job (Dakota Plains) gave me a little booklet on crisis communication. I had brought up the requirement for a crisis communication paper two weeks ago. He also gave me an outline of the company's crisis communication plan. Which had to be put into effect in 2006 when a tender truck driver rolled his truck when he tried to correct going slightly into the ditch. It was fatal roll over and he did not survive, therefore the crisis communication plan took action. Unfortunately, I cannot find any articles on it that I don't have to pay to get into.
As for Valley City's current crisis on hand, the flood and the clean up. I had talked to the mayor last week while she was waiting to pay for her gas, and I asked her how things were going and what nots and she told me that during the whole flood situation, she was working with people with whom she trusted. The day following the afternoon we were chatting, she said she had to meet with FEMA, so no more trust there, basically put on a game face situation.
But good news for Valley City, no more porta potties! And water restrictions have been, for the most part, lifted. Only problem is, is that the sanitary sewer system is partially above ground (on 2nd St NW and in the middle of the intersection of central and main). Short showers, still the whole "if its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down" motto, one wash (load of clothes) a day and basically try to run too much water into the drains. It is just a big pain in the butt still, because you still got to watch your Ps and Qs.
But it does seem like Valley City is going to pull out of this whole thing with flying colors. Like I mentioned in my prior blog post, it'll just be a while until the city is back to complete normalness (roads, houses, water system).
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
VC's Battle
For our paper, I have decided that since I live in Valley City, I'd might as well do a paper on the flood in Valley City. Especially since I have a lot of first hand information. Not only with helping a few times up at sandbag central, but also by working and being part of a essential business when times were stressful and flood items were in high demand. And to see how many people weren't losing their minds, but staying calm and just trying to deal with things before they got worse.
At first the town battled snow storm after snow storm, leading them to shut down interstate a few times, and basically the whole time another time or two. Then with all of that snow, it was a sure sign that the spring was not going to be good. And it seemed almost as soon as it start the melting and the levels started going up, the city was on it, trying to prevent what could have been the most devastating flood in Valley City. And then as the need for sandbaggers grew, Dr. Shirley and staff called off classes many days to encourage and allow students to go up to the Winter Show barns and help fight the flood. Which I personally thought was way cool of him and the staff at VCSU, helping out the community that much. The high school also let students out. The effort from this community was crazy! (in a good way)
And after all of this, I've realized how strong this community really is. How willing so many people are to give up their time to help others and help the city win the battle. And for a whole city to cooperate with a NO WATER DRAINING ban is also amazing to see. Everyone was doing everything they could to save the city. Unfortunately, it'll now be years til its a pretty city again. . . Roads (such as Winter Show, 9th and Main), levees, people's yards and all the other things damaged by the water.
I feel that since I was here, and I can talk to a lot of people that live here, I should be able to get some very useful information dealing with the Flood of '09.
At first the town battled snow storm after snow storm, leading them to shut down interstate a few times, and basically the whole time another time or two. Then with all of that snow, it was a sure sign that the spring was not going to be good. And it seemed almost as soon as it start the melting and the levels started going up, the city was on it, trying to prevent what could have been the most devastating flood in Valley City. And then as the need for sandbaggers grew, Dr. Shirley and staff called off classes many days to encourage and allow students to go up to the Winter Show barns and help fight the flood. Which I personally thought was way cool of him and the staff at VCSU, helping out the community that much. The high school also let students out. The effort from this community was crazy! (in a good way)
And after all of this, I've realized how strong this community really is. How willing so many people are to give up their time to help others and help the city win the battle. And for a whole city to cooperate with a NO WATER DRAINING ban is also amazing to see. Everyone was doing everything they could to save the city. Unfortunately, it'll now be years til its a pretty city again. . . Roads (such as Winter Show, 9th and Main), levees, people's yards and all the other things damaged by the water.
I feel that since I was here, and I can talk to a lot of people that live here, I should be able to get some very useful information dealing with the Flood of '09.
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