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Fargo relieved as Red River Crests

Stories from flood fight in North Dakota

By: Staff Writer

29/03/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

JOE BRYKSA/ WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

Mark Nyquist has his hands — and feet — full as he makes certain flood-proofing efforts in Rose Creek housing development are up to snuff.

FARGO, N.D. — Fargo’s fears of a catastrophic flood eased Saturday with word that the Red River crested at lower-than-expected levels, and weary residents turned their attention to ensuring their hastily built levees held up against an onslaught of ice-laden water expected to stay high for at least a week.
U.S. National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Hudson said the Red River began receding Saturday morning. But the river can still fluctuate up to 30 centimetres and may remain at dangerous levels for a week, meaning people will have to wait several days before they are completely safe.
"The best news we can take from this is the river has crested," Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker said. "But diligence is going to have to be required for at least eight more days and hopefully things will continue to drop."
Forecasters say the river is retreating because cold temperatures have frozen water that would normally flow into the river. By the time that ice thaws, the biggest flooding threat should have passed, Hudson said.
Despite the revised forecast, officials did not back down in their efforts to fend off the flood waters, deploying high-tech Predator drone aircraft, calling up additional National Guard troops and asking residents to form neighbourhood dike patrols to look for any breaches in the levees.

Chilly temp. gives respite

GRAND FORKS — Meteorologist Dave Kellenbenz said cold temperatures have slowed the runoff in the Grand Forks area. And, the Red Lake River flood crest is coming into the Red River ahead of the Red’s own crest.
"We’re not going to have the Red Lake and the Red meeting together in Grand Forks," he said.
In addition to the lower crest, Grand Forks received good news regarding a snowstorm that is tracking toward the area.
Kellenbenz said the storm will hit the southern Red River Valley more than the northern portion. A blizzard watch is in effect for southeast and south-central North Dakota starting late today. Kellenbenz said the Fargo area could get 7 to 12 centimetres of snow while Grand Forks could get up to 2.5 centimetres of snow.

Presidential support

WASHINGTON — In his weekly Saturday address, U.S. President Barack Obama focused on flooding in North Dakota instead of the economic crisis.
Obama assured the nation he was keeping close watch on the floods and putting the government’s full weight behind efforts to prevent disaster.
"Even as we face an economic crisis that demands our constant focus, forces of nature can also intervene in ways that create other crises to which we must respond — and respond urgently," the president said.
He noted that he granted North Dakota’s major disaster declaration request on Tuesday and ordered federal support for the region. He also issued an emergency declaration for Minnesota.

Sandbaggers on the move
MANVEL, N.D. — As flood waters flowed northward Saturday, sandbaggers moved with it.
Hundreds of volunteers worked feverishly to build dikes to keep water from inundating farms east of Interstate 29 near Manvel, a few kilometres north of grand Forks. Another 50 volunteers filled bags.
Mark Johnson was shovelling sand as his daughter, Kayla Johnson, held the bags. Earlier in the week, Kayla volunteered in the Fargo-Moorhead flood fight, she said.
"Now I get to help out my community up here."

Holed up in hotel
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — It’s been a tough month for Dan Reitan. The retired professor from Fargo lost his wife March 4. Soon after, he moved from one senior centre to another. Now this week, he’s a flood evacuee, living out of a suitcase in the Canad Inn.
Reitan, 88, is one of eight people bused to the Grand Forks hotel from Edgewood Vista, a senior’s facility that was evacuated after officials warned high waters might shut down utilities in Fargo.
Janelle Klinke, who is tending to the group, said the Fargo facility had to find temporary homes for its 150 or so residents. "It’s less stressful on people when it’s not rushed," Klinke said. "This was more of a day trip."

Water pours onto I-29
OSLO. Minn. — Interstate 29 north of Grand Forks has water over the highway, according to a county official.
Emergency Manager Brent Nelson said the water is over the top of the road in the northbound lane, just south of the Oslo, Minn., exit.
Interstate 29 is still open in the county, but Nelson said officials are concerned the water will freeze.
An ice jam north of the bridge crossing over the Red River into Oslo, as well as an ice sheet more than six kilometres long south of the bridge, caused river levels to swell in the area.

— from wire services, Grand Forks Herald

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