Staff Writer
The saying “it takes a village to raise a child” may be true to some degree under normal circumstances, but when a natural disaster occurs, sometimes it takes other ‘villages’ to lend a hand. That’s exactly what happened last week when the worst flooding in over a century struck the St. John Valley, with the rising water level of the St. John River – reaching over 30 feet – driving not just homeowners and business owners from their property, but students at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.
As flood waters threatened downtown Fort Kent, officials made the decision to shut off power and the community’s water supply, leaving even those not in direct threat from the overflowing river without electricity and other necessities. It was decided at that point by campus officials to evacuate students for health and safety reasons. The lack of showers and other sanitary facilities prompted the evacuation, with students allowed to return to campus late in the weekend. Things were gradually returning to normal at UMFK by Sunday, with power restored, and commencement exercises are scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 10, as planned.
Seeing a community and its people in need of help, campuses, businesses, organizations and individuals in Presque Isle stepped forward with much-needed aid.
“The campus presidents (UMPI’s Don Zillman and UMFK’s Richard Cost) are good colleagues and very helpful to each other. Don’s quick offer of housing to Fort Kent students reflects not only his character but the colleagueship that exists within the (University of Maine) system,” said UMS Chancellor Richard Patenaude, who was in Aroostook County last week to attend meetings.
Patenaude was pleased with Cost’s quick response to the situation.
“I also want to commend Dick Cost and the UMFK leadership for their very able handling of this emergency. UMFK is a great asset to its community and the County. Its efforts in this emergency demonsrtate that,” said Patenaude.
Students evacuated from UMFK beginning on Wednesday, April 30, were given options for temporary housing, including staying at either UMPI or the Northern Maine Community College until it was deemed safe to return to their dorm rooms. Both campuses provided housing from Wednesday through Saturday, May 3.
NMCC officials indicated over 20 students sought housing with them in vacant rooms in the residence halls. Students reportedly arrived around 3 p.m. Wednesday and left early Sunday evening.
At UMPI, students were housed in the Wieden gymnasium, where cots were set up.
“We had 25 students who stayed at UMPI. We could have accommodated several more,” said Rachel Rice, media relations coordinator for the university.
“Special thanks to our friends and colleague Presidents Tim Crowley, at NMCC, and Don Zillman, at UMPI, for their enthusiastic response to support our students,” said Cost.
The American Red Cross, Pine Tree Chapter, provided cots and blankets as needed. The Aroostook Medical Center provided towels and bedding to each campus, Wal-Mart stepped in with products like toothbrushes and toothpaste and Tim Hortons provided coffee and donuts for those temporarily housed at the two campuses.
