Flood Victims Fix Yards | Video

Rich Wisniewski | 5/25/2012

Temperatures were low on Friday, but down in the valley, the spirits are high.

"It`s a proud feeling to have accomplished, so the hard work is ok," said Lauria Nelson

Nelson, who lives in South Carolina, has parents who were victims of the flood. She makes the trip to Minot every couple months to help them get back in their house. All her hard work has paid off, because they have moved back home, but the aftermath of the disaster is still there.

"I cry, and I could cry now for them, for the loss, because all the happy moments don`t make up for the loss that they faced," she said.

Now the FEMA trailer in the front lawn is gone and on Friday her and her Dad have turned their attention to her Father’s pride and joy, his front lawn.

"Dad`s a yard guy, you know, and even though the yard isn`t a priority, it is to him kind of," she added.

Around the corner, another group of people is spending the day outside in the yard. Even though the weather isn`t the warmest, this is the perfect time to get stuff done.

"It`s not too warm, so that way we can do a lot of stuff and not get overheated," said Minot resident Bobbi Meinert.

Meinert, her husband and her neighbor are cutting down some bushes and trees. For Meinert, she is still in her FEMA trailer and she would obviously love to be home, but seeing her neighborhood take shape like it has, is a great feeling.

"When I drive to work in the morning, I see all the changes in the houses and it`s really nice to see. Makes me smile a little when I go through."

Whether it`s inside the house, or outside, as days go by, work is getting done and soon more and more people will know the feeling that Lauria and her parents know, the feeling of going home.

The City of Minot wants to remind residents that on Tuesday, May 29, the city will have its first round of flood debris pickup. The next one will be around the 4th of July.

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