MBU Students Support Watertown Efforts to Protect from Flood Waters
On Thursday evening, September 6, a group of nineteen MBU students and one faculty member joined forces with the Watertown Street Department to fill sandbags in anticipation of high water levels along the Rock River.
A lengthy series of rain storms and flash flood watches have concerned many southern Wisconsin residents over the past few weeks. According to local sources, Watertown, WI is just one of many cities dealing with the after effects of flood-inducing amounts of rain.
On Thursday morning, Rock River measured at six inches above flood stage level and was expected to climb an additional 8-12 inches over the weekend. Watertown’s mayor, Mr. John David, reached out to Mr. Steve Board, MBU’s director of development and good friend. The mayor inquired if MBU students would be interested in helping the city fill sandbags.
Mr. Board promptly posted the Mayor’s request on the student announcement webpage. Just two hours later, students volunteered to help. They willingly postponed their homework for the evening to lend a hand to the city.
When the students arrived, they found a large pile of sand, some shovels, pallets, and empty white bags. Filling sandbags was no easy task. For two hours, the students shoveled sand into bags in an assembly line fashion, then stacked them for transportation.
When asked about the experience, Michaela Pickerel, an MBU senior, stated, “This was a really good opportunity for MBU to show the community that we care.”
Their hard work was greatly appreciated. In response to a text message from Mr. Board, the Mayor wrote, “We really can’t thank you and your students enough.”
On Saturday, the students returned to help a local resident place sand bags at their home along the river. The students were able to set nearly 100 bags at the home. Following that, the students returned to the Watertown Street Department and filled approximately 100 bags to replenish those they had used.