Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: April 2, 2009

Contact:  PA2 Thomas Blue

314-269-2619

Red River Flood Rescue Footage

MARVIN, N.D. – Airboat crews from U.S. Coast Guard Station Sturgeon Bay, Wis., and the Fish and Wildlife Department, working with the Grand Forks Sheriffs Department, rescue a stranded man April, 1, 2009, from a home surrounded by flood waters. The man had been helping build dikes around his son’s home when flood waters from the Red River Valley left him trapped, unable to leave without a boat. (U.S. Coast Guard video/Petty Officer 3rd Class Erik Swanson)

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=513031&g2_navId=xc41f59ac

FARGO, N.D. -- In this video, a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Detroit show the extensive flooding surrounding the Red River near Fargo, N.D., April 1, 2009. Many local residents have found themselves stranded after the recent devastating floods and snowstorms. Rescue teams comprised of the U.S. Coast Guard, The Fish and Wildlife Service, Customs and Border Patrol, Cass County and Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department, Valley Rescue Service and several other local, state and federal agencies have saturated the area for more than a week rescuing residents from the flooded homes and working to restore the community. On the later half of the video, Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class James Downey is shown pushing a stranded resident in a rowboat out of harms way so that he could be hoisted to safety.
(U.S. Coast Guard video/AMT2 Chris Shaw)

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=513116 (MOV)

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=514719 (WMV)

For the latest Coast Guard news and imagery regarding the Red River floods, please visit:

Http://cgvi.uscg.mil

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36783873@N03/

http://www.uscgstormwatch.com/go/site/1769