The new makeshift home of East Grand Forks city hall is the Comfort Inn on U.S. Highway 2.

‘‘It’s not the called the Comfort Inn today,’’ East Grand Forks mayor Lynn Stauss said at a flood press conference Monday morning at the hotel, ‘‘but we’re going to get through this.’’

No knock on the motel, Stauss said, but it had no water or sewer system Monday. Those were minor inconveniences compared to what people will face in the flood-ravaged East Grand Forks area for the next month.

They are displaced and will remain that way for two to four weeks, Stauss said. All but about 250 residents in the community of 9,000 have adhered to a mandatory evacuation.

‘‘Some of them hide, because they know they want them out,’’ Stauss said of those left and the rescue workers. ‘‘The bad part of it is, they’re going to have to man the pumps for weeks to come.’’

Most of those who left the city face an uphill battle, too.

‘‘There’s nothing to come back to now,’’ Stauss said. ‘‘We have to basically, rebuild our community.’’

In the meantime, Stauss is urging residents to stay away for safety reasons. The up to 25 feet of water that is above land is contaminated with everything from raw sewage to fuel.

And the Red and Red Lake rivers were continuing to rise Monday.

‘‘Have patience,’’ Stauss said. ‘‘It’s going to take time. We’re with you.’’

East Grand Forks has shifted some of its gears from the flood-fighting and rescue stages to recovery — both emotionally and monetarily. Officials are stressing the most popular 800-number in the area: (800) 462-9029 (from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.). That’s FEMA, which has grants of up to $13,100 available. The Small Business Administration has low-interest loans for homeowners, renters and businesses available for victims.

Many who leave homes behind are wondering how much damage their homes and possessions suffered as a result, Stauss said. Officials will try to shoot a video of most areas to be shown in towns around the region.

The hope is that those from East Grand Forks will be able to see the areas in which they live on the video.

‘‘This really is a disaster and is going to be with us for a long time,’’ Stauss said. Rent and house payment help, unemployment compensation, and counseling should be available, officials said. FEMA is opening a temporary office in Crookston, which also may include staffs of northwest Minnesota+s Congressional delegation.

Luminaries in East Grand Forks Monday included Gov. Arne Carlson, who arrived for the first time during the flood late in the afternoon, and Sen. Rod Grams and Rep. Collin Peterson. President Clinton and Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., plan to fly over the flood-ravaged area today. Peterson said he believes damages in the Dakotas and Minnesota from flooding will be in the billions.

The congressman also pleaded with those to the north of East Grand Forks along the Red River to evacuate. Some were busy sandbagging Monday.

So was the National Guard and other agencies. The cellular communications tower, the water plant, the police department and other essential areas were their targets.

‘‘I don’t think there+s been a neighborhood that’s been spared,’’ said Jeff Granger, a conservation officer for the Department of Natural Resources.

Bill Steinbar, who lives on Bygland Road Southeast, may be one of the fortunate. His wife, Rosie O’Leary-Steinbar, was attending the pumps at their home Monday. Her husband, who has been staying in the home, went to Crookston for a tetanus shot.

That was the first time he left his home during the flood. Two neighbors also have declined to evacuate. ‘‘They’re cleaning out their freezers and having barbecues at night,’’ O’Leary-Steinbar said.

They’re getting by, just like the mayor.