NDSU offers free counseling services, including for spring flood stress
North Dakota State University’s Community Counseling Services is offering free counseling services to the public this spring and summer. The services may be especially valuable to people in stressful situations related to job loss or the potential spring flood.
Advanced graduate students, under the supervision of NDSU faculty and doctoral students, will provide counseling. Part of the counselor education program at NDSU, CCS has provided quality counseling services to the community for more than 20 years.
“We are mindful that with the possibility of another major flood in the Red River valley, on top of existing economic stress, folks are facing some challenging issues. In difficult times, a trusted professional can help sort things out,” said Chasity Odden Heide, Community Counseling Services clinic manager.
Counseling may be beneficial for persons feeling anxiety, depression and grief, or facing relationship or financial challenges. Community Counseling Services provides individual, couple, family and group counseling services, with flexible hours to accommodate client needs.
“The graduate student counselor trainees and counseling program faculty are dedicated to serving the mental health needs of the Fargo-Moorhead community in a professional manner. Having the opportunity to provide free, high quality counseling services to people in need is one of the best parts of our jobs,” said Jill Nelson, assistant professor and counselor education program coordinator.
“We see a wide variety of children and adults in our practice, and we encourage people to call for an appointment to discuss any variety of life’s stressors and issues.”
Community Counseling Services is located at 1919 N. University Drive. Parking is available in front of the building. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Odden Heide at (701) 231-9750.
Posted by: floodblogger on 3/11/2010 at 5:39 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Tags: flood
Q&A on sump pumps
For many homeowners, a sump pump is their first line of defense against getting water in the basement.
The threat of flooding this spring means homeowners should check their sump pump now to make sure it works properly, North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural engineer Tom Scherer says.
A new NDSU video offers tips on getting sump pumps ready to handle spring and summer water. It's available at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/flood/home/sump-pump-tips.
Sump pumps come in two basic models: upright (commonly called a pedestal) and submersible. Either will work well with proper maintenance, according to Scherer.
The sump, which is the pit where the pump sits, may be connected to drain tile that drains the footings of the house, the area under the entire basement or just the area where the sump is located. Many houses have tile installed only around a portion of the house. The water that drains into the sump must be removed. That's accomplished with a sump pump.
The pedestal pump's motor is on top of the pedestal and the pump is at the base, which sits on the bottom of the sump. The motor is not meant to get wet. A ball float turns the pump on and off. One advantage of this type of pump is that the on/off switch is visible, so you can see the ball float's action easily, Scherer says.
Submersible pumps are designed to be submerged in water and sit on the bottom of the sump. The on/off switch is attached to the pump.
Pumps have three main types of on/off controls. The first type uses a ball float attached to the pump and connected to an internal watertight switch. The second type is a sealed, tethered float switch with an on/off setting that is adjustable by changing the length of the tether. The third type uses a diaphragm to sense the water level and turn the pump on and off.
Either type of pump should have a check valve on the water discharge pipe so water doesn't flow back into the sump when the pump shuts off. Water flowing back into the sump can cause the pump to turn on and off more frequently than necessary, which decreases the life of the pump.
To check the pump, first make sure the discharge pipe on the side of the house is not frozen shut or plugged and that it directs water away from the house.
Next, make sure the pump is plugged in. Remove the lid (if the sump has one) and use a flashlight to check if the sump is clean and the pump inlet screens are not plugged.
Slowly pour water into the sump. Try to simulate the speed that water normally would flow into the sump. Watch the on/off switch's action and listen to the pump. Make sure the pump turns on and off at least twice. If something doesn't work or sound right, fix it as soon as possible.
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about sump pumps:
Q: Can you burn the pump out if the outdoor pipe is frozen shut or will it shut off automatically?
A: Most pumps will not burn up, but they can overheat if left in this condition.
Almost all sump pump motors have thermal protection built in, but the submersible type need water around the motor for cooling. If they do overheat, shut them off and let them cool. The thermal relay will reset.
Q: What size pump should I have for my house?
A: There is no "correct" size. The horsepower requirement for a house is determined by several factors, including the length of drain tile connected to the sump, the lift from the sump to the discharge pipe on the side of the house and the length of hose or pipe on the outside of the house. A one-third horsepower pump is satisfactory for most houses, but if you have more than 40 feet of pipe outside the house, use a pump with more horsepower (one-half, three-fourths or even 1 horsepower).
Q: Do sump pumps have filters that need to be cleaned or replaced?
A: Sump pumps do not have filters, but they do have screens or small openings where the water enters the pump. These sometimes can be plugged.
Q: Can or should you pump into a sewer drain or basement floor drain?
A: No. If you have a septic system, under no circumstances should you pump sump water into the basement floor drain. During wet conditions, the septic system's drain field usually is saturated and struggling to handle the normal flow of water from the house. Adding to the flow with a sump pump can damage the septic system. Even if you are connected to a public sanitary system, the sump should not be pumped into a floor drain. Putting additional water into the public sewer during flooding can contribute to sewage backflow. As a result, some cities have regulations against pumping into their sanitary sewer system. Some communities allow sump water to discharge into the sanitary sewer but only for specified periods during the winter.
Q: Where should the sump pump drain hose run?
A: Preferably, sump water should be discharged at least 20 feet from the house so it drains away from the house. Also, it should not be directed into a neighbor's lot, window wells or a septic system drain field.
Q: Can I replace a defective sump pump or do I need specialized tools or a plumber?
A: Almost all sump pumps come with a list of required tools and directions for installation. Replacing a sump pump should not be difficult for the "average"
person.
Posted by: floodblogger on 3/11/2010 at 4:02 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Tags: flood
Pomeroy: FEMA vows aid for spring flooding
National emergency management leaders promise to deliver resources and aid to help North Dakota communities deal with spring flooding, Rep. Earl Pomeroy said Thursday.
Pomeroy recently met with Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to convey the concerns of local officials and said he was pleased with Fugate’s commitment.
“If we see widespread flooding in North Dakota this spring, FEMA will be an important resource for many North Dakota communities,” Pomeroy said in a statement. “But many of our smaller towns don’t have the full-time staff that other local governments have, and they need some extra help.”
“Administrator Fugate promised that our small towns would get all the help they need from FEMA,” Pomeroy continued. “I think it will go a long way toward protecting those communities.”
Posted by: floodblogger on 3/11/2010 at 2:31 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Tags: aid, earl pomeroy, fema, flood
Fargo closes Elm Street until flood fight finishes
Elm Street in north Fargo has been closed as the city gears up for its spring flood fight.
Staff from the city’s Street Department closed permanent gates near the El Zagal Golf Course due to water drainage across the road Wednesday.
A news release issued by the city said Elm Street, between 14th and 15th avenues north, would remain closed until the flood fight is finished.
Detours have been set up for traffic in the area.
Posted by: floodblogger on 3/11/2010 at 1:21 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
NDSU contributes 1,400 volunteer hours so far
FARGO - North Dakota State University reports that nearly 500 volunteers from the university have contributed to the flood fight already this spring.
Janna Stoskopf, NDSU dean of student services, said the volunteers have donated nearly 1,400 hours of service filling sandbags.
"I'm very, very proud of what we as a campus have done so far in the effort," Stoskopf said Thursday during an open forum on campus.
NDSU also hosted a presentation Thursday on coping with stress related to a disaster.
Posted by: floodblogger on 3/11/2010 at 1:03 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
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