Flooding resources
to the rescue

History with disaster
response pays off

When the Red River Valley began to flood last spring, Extension was ready. In a sense, preparations had been under way for 100 years.

Based on predictions by Extension climatologist Mark Seeley, Extension began mobilizing resources well in advance. Extension's 100-year history with disaster response provided a blueprint for the types of research-based information Minnesota families would need in a timely manner, ranging from how to deal with moldy sheetrock to financial stress.

Moorhead resident Cindy Swenson relies on Extension's flood response website. "I don't know where else you could get this information," she says. "People trust it. If it's said by Extension, we know we can count on it."

Seeley attributes this trust to Extension's presence and history of reliability throughout the state. "We know what's important to Minnesotans because we live and work in these communities," he says. "We make the latest research practical and available for them when they need it most."

For more information on Extension's disaster response resources, visit www.extension.umn.edu/DisasterResponse