ROSEAU, Minn., June 21 (UPI) -- Heavy downpours that covered roads in northwest Minnesota Friday forced Gov. Jesse Ventura to cancel a trip to flood-ravaged Roseau but federal officials began moving in temporary housing.
President George W. Bush issued a disaster declaration for the 13 county region last week after more than 95 percent of the town's homes and businesses were flooded by the Roseau River, which crested at 23.5 feet, 7.5 feet above flood stage.
Thunderstorms caused localized flooding in the Twin Cities as well as in west-central Minnesota, canceling Ventura's trip. Meanwhile, busloads of volunteers in rubber boots and work gloves descended on the town to help its 3,000 beleaguered residents cleanup damage from the worst flood since 1997.
A planeload of volunteers from Grand Forks, N.D., and East Grand Forks, Minn., flew to town Thursday to repay the kindness shown by strangers when their towns were inundated by the Red River five years ago.
Piles of ruined furniture, soggy insulation, mildewed clothing, old magazines and newspapers were dumped in festering piles on lawns for removal.
Polaris Industries, the town's largest employer, survived thanks to a sandbag and earthen wall thrown up against the river by employees and volunteers. The plant, which makes snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, employs 1,800 workers.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assigned mobile homes at a temporary emergency operations center at Roseau High School to residents whose homes were too damaged to return to. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it would purchase additional trailer for use as temporary residences.
