Volunteers and resources are available for North Dakota and Minnesota flood victims, but they must apply to be connected with those resources.

The Resource Agencies Flood Team (RAFT) is a cooperative effort of faith-based and community-based agencies to assist disaster victims as they recover. Each RAFT applicant works with a case manager to learn about pertinent services and resources and to develop a recovery plan. If there are unmet needs, the case manager presents individual cases to a county or city unmet needs committee throughout the affected areas of Minnesota and North Dakota. Within the financial limits of a given unmet needs committee, a disaster victim may be able be secure additional financial help or voluntary labor to make homes safe, sanitary and secure.

Individuals and families wishing to apply to RAFT may receive an application by contacting:

Rev. Debra Ball-Kilbourne

1000 5th Avenue Northeast

Jamestown, ND 58102

(701)952-2009.

“The deadline for applying to RAFT is Aug. 17,” Ball-Kilbourne says. “Flood victims should apply for FEMA and SBA assistance immediately, but RAFT funds can support needs that government programs may not meet. Teams of volunteers are available now to help with both clean-up and rebuild efforts. If people wait too long to apply to RAFT, they may not be able to receive teams of skilled voluntary labor. We hope those who have received damage from the flood and who wish to apply for disaster-related care through RAFT will apply now.”

Note: The NDSU Extension Service, which is distributing this news release, is one of 12 faith-based and community-based agencies that make up the Resource Agencies Flood Team.

NDSU Agriculture Communication