INFORUM.com

WDAY: Your News Leader

print article Print     e-mail article E-mail
Published March 15, 2010, 10:05 AM

Racing against the river a second time

Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) - For the 2nd year in a row, a family living South of Fargo is in a race against the river. Last year, Sharon Kaseman had to take care of business alone, while her husband was away in Iraq. This time, the family's all together, trying to beat the water back again.

  • Jason Kaseman
    • image
    Sharon's husband, Jason has only been home a little more than a month. He's been planning for days now, coming up with a plan of action.

Sharon Kaseman says she doesn't know what she would do if her husband wasn't here, taking charge of sandbagging operations. Especially since now, she can only get around on crutches.

“I just, I cry when I think about it. When you think about those nightmares and getting up the next day and doing it all again, when you hurt so bad.”

Sharon Kaseman can't do much manual labor this spring, with a broken ankle. So she's making sure she fills up volunteers, giving them enough steam to get the job done. Sharon knows the devastation of water all too well. Last year, it broke a downstairs window, and poured inside.

“So we lost three bedrooms and a living room, and we were fortunate because the water missed by about an inch of the main level.”

Sharon's husband, Jason has only been home a little more than a month. He's been planning for days now, coming up with a plan of action. Last year, he says the ground was still frozen, which allowed the water slip underneath the sandbag levees.

“This year I'm doing a lot of scraping and digging, so I want mud before I put the sandbags down, so it'll seal better.

The Kaseman's home is about eight miles out of town, which means the crest will happen for them, a few days early. Jason wants to be ready by Wednesday.

“The water hits the base of the wall at about 34 feet, when Fargo says 34 feet. So that's how long I have to sandbag.”

With the help that's shown up already, the family is confident they'll be ready.

“You have to know that there's a God and a special love, and I'm so glad to be a part of it.”

The Kaseman's have three truckloads of sand, and three thousand bags to fill. They'll be working again tomorrow, if you'd like to help, go to 7914 Forest River Road, just east off of Highway 81.

Tags: , , , , , ,