New estimate raises ND flood higher than sandbags

[L. Coyote]

Source: Yahoo News

Nate Jenkins And Dave Kolpack, Associated Press Writers – 1 hr 8 mins ago

FARGO, N.D. – Bad news turned dire Thursday for residents scrambling in subfreezing temperatures to pile sandbags along the Red River: After they spent the day preparing for a record crest of 41 feet, forecasters added up to 2 feet to their estimate.

The first estimate sparked urgency among thousands of volunteers in Fargo, but the second sparked doubts about whether a 43-foot-high wall of water could be stopped. Across the river in Moorhead, Minn., City Manager Michael Redlinger said portions of his city's dike could not be easily raised to withstand a 42-foot crest.

"Now everything's up in the air," he said.

The old estimate was 41 feet by Saturday afternoon, and thousands of volunteers had labored throughout the day to raise the dikes around North Dakota's largest city to 43 feet. City and emergency officials had said they were confident the city would make it, but will now have to build higher.

...................

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090327/ap_on_re_us/midwest_flooding

[aquart]

1. Shit.

[babylonsister]

2. This really sucks, but I'm so impressed with North Dakotans!

Man, they walked the walk this week doing what they could for their communities.

I wish I knew how current this is. The link claims 1 minute, but I doubt that.

[Stellabella]

3. I'm in Minnesota, and that's the latest news.

So unfortunately it is current.

I'm just lucky that I don't live in that area.

[L. Coyote]

4. SLIDE SHOW: Fargo prepares for flooding = 95 images

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Fargo-prepares-flooding/ss/events/sc/032409fargoflooding

[Odin2005]

5. CRAP! CRAP! CRAP!

:scared:

[L. Coyote]

6. 3 mins ago = Cracks in levee forces evacuations in Fargo, ND

Cracks in levee forces evacuations in Fargo, ND
AP – 3 mins ago - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/midwest_flooding


FARGO, N.D. – Officials in North Dakota have ordered a mandatory evacuation of one Fargo neighborhood and a nursing home after authorities found cracks in an earthen levee built around the area.

Authorities say the evacuation late Thursday is a precaution and that the 40 homes in the River Vili neighborhood are not in immediate danger. They say no water has breached the levee.

They also say Riverview Estates nursing home is being evacuated. The number of residents affected isn't immediately clear.

Fargo is on high alert after forecasters said the Red River could crest higher than predicted — at a record 43 feet. ............

FARGO, N.D. – Officials in North Dakota have ordered a mandatory evacuation of one Fargo neighborh

[babylonsister]

7. Don't believe the time stated, it's not always true.

Having said that, what you posted sounds like a hurricane. :scared:

[Tashca]

8. Hope this doesn't hold true

But I was scared of this....last year in Cedar Rapids the water came up so fast and blew through all the predictions by at least 2 feet....it ended up 4.5 feet higher than our highest levees.....

I truly hope this doesn't come to pass again...

Good luck people....and take all the help you can get...your going to need it!!

[krkaufman]

9. 'gads... are there any areas that could be intentionally flooded...?

... to lower the crest?

[glinda]

16. No. The lay of the land makes it impossible although I thought they

should next time build pipes leading to Texas or someplace where there is a drought.

[CatholicEdHead]

10. This is happening very similar to the Grand Forks flood in 1997

even though this is Fargo, the similarities are very eerie. I was in the Grand Forks flood of 1997 so it is deja vu right now.

[L. Coyote]

11. New Red River flood forecast: Evacuate

City officials in Fargo, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn., told residents to get ready to leave as forecasts added a foot to the crest of the Red River.
By BILL McAULIFFE, MATT McKINNEY and CURT BROWN, Star Tribune
Last update: March 26, 2009 - 10:04 PM
http://www.startribune.com/local/41906537.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBcy7hUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU


RED RIVER VALLEY - Moorhead, Minn., officials urged residents in a large swath of their city to get ready to leave as forecasters jacked up Red River crest projections by another foot Thursday.

The Red could reach 43 feet by Saturday afternoon, which would be an all-time record .........

The new forecast, which put the projected crest in a range between 41 and 43 feet, took government leaders by surprise. Earlier reports called for a crest range between 40 and 42 feet. More than 2 inches of rain and snow the past four days in the area prompted the revamped projections, according to hydrologist Steve Buan of the North Central River Forecast Center.

Both the Red and Wild Rice River, a tributary just south of Fargo, will crest at the same time Saturday, Buan said, which rarely happens. The Wild Rice has been causing overland flooding and evacuations in North Dakota for the past two days. Buan noted that the area had 75 percent more rain and snow in the months leading up to this flooding compared to 1997's chaos.

[L. Coyote]

12. Southwest Moorhead residents directed to evacuate

Southwest Moorhead residents directed to evacuate

Moorhead officials are directing that all residents who live between Interstate 94 and 50th Avenue South west of Eight Street to evacuate the area immediately. And Fargo officials are asking for voluntary evacuations for those who live between contingency and first-line dikes in the next 24 hours, saying it will become mandatory after that.

By: Dave Olson, The Forum - http://www.dl-online.com/event/article/id/42884/


Moorhead officials are directing that all residents who live between Interstate 94 and 50th Avenue South west of Eight Street to evacuate the area immediately. And Fargo officials are asking for voluntary evacuations for those who live between contingency and first-line dikes in the next 24 hours, saying it will become mandatory after that.

Fargo city commissioners during a special meeting tonight passed a motion to shut down travel on all major roads in Fargo by midnight tonight.

In Moorhead, residents are being told to seek shelter with family or friends outside of the flood zone to conserve emergency resources.

A Red Cross public shelter is available ...........

[emmadoggy]

13. Oh crap. This is horrible news.

My heart goes out to everyone affected. Stay safe everyone!

[L. Coyote]

14. Red approaches record crest in Fargo By: Dan Lett 10:08 PM

Red approaches record crest in Fargo
By: Dan Lett - 10:08 PM - http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Red-approaches-record-crest-in-Fargo-41954542.html


FARGO — The reality of 43 feet .... the waterfront homes in the upscale River Road neighborhood.

"We’re preparing to evacuate," the car dealership owner said ..... The reality of 43 feet — the potential level ....sometime on Saturday .... A persistent winter storm blanketed the city ....

There was a diversion constructed in West Fargo to protect against the ravages of Cheyenne River flooding. Some levees and permanent dikes were raised, but only to handle a river level of 37 or 38 feet. As a result, the most vulnerable areas have been sandbagged and re-enforced with temporary clay dikes.

In some of those most vulnerable areas, the dikes sit at maximum height of 43 feet, four inches .... razor thin margin of error......

[glinda]

17. Hope animals are out of there!!!!!!!!!!!

[L. Coyote]

15. Volunteer dike building in Fargo ceased for evening, bagging ongoing at Fargodome

FLOOD UPDATE: Volunteer dike building in Fargo ceased for evening, bagging ongoing at Fargodome
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/235373/


Volunteer dike building in Fargo has ceased for the evening and volunteers are currently being transported back to the volunteer busing station locations, according to a news release.

Volunteer dike building in Fargo has ceased for the evening and volunteers are currently being transported back to the volunteer busing station locations, according to a news release.

Sandbagging at the Fargodome will continue throughout the night.

The volunteer center is requesting that only volunteers who live in the immediate area of the Fargodome, such as Northport and North Dakota State University come and sandbag, the release said.

This is being done to eliminate traffic congestion in the city so that sand and clay trucks can get to their destinations safely and quickly.

[L. Coyote]

18. AP: Cracks in levee force evacuations in Fargo, ND

Cracks in levee force evacuations in Fargo, ND
By NATE JENKINS and DAVE KOLPACK – 18 minutes ago
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hw95ek5Sllmi4SoQ_N4HJvwHE0ZAD9764PO01


FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Officials ordered the evacuation of one Fargo neighborhood and a nursing home late Thursday after authorities found cracks in an earthen levee built to protect the area from the threat of the rising Red River.

Residents were not in immediate danger, and floodwaters was not flowing over the levee, Mayor Dennis Walaker said Thursday night. The evacuation was being enforced as a precaution.

Officers were going door to door to the roughly 40 homes in the River Vili neighborhood and were evacuating Riverview Estates nursing home. Authorities also called for the voluntary evacuation of about 1,000 people who live between the main dikes and backups in various parts of the city. That evacuation could become mandatory, officials said.

Authorities across the river in Moorhead, Minn., also stepped up evacuations Thursday. They recommended that residents leave the southwest corner of the city and a low-lying township to the north.

Fargo residents have been scrambling in subfreezing temperatures to pile sandbags .............

[Qanisqineq]

19. Very scary

My parents' house is surrounded by flood water from the James River (in ND) but they said it is starting to go down. Sounds like the Red River could stay at 42' (or whatever it reaches) for days.

I wish I was still in Fargo so I could help.

[L. Coyote]

20. Update: River At Record 40.44 Feet And Rising = Volunteers Continue Sandbagging

Update: Red River At Record High 40.44 Feet And Rising As Volunteers Continue Sandbagging In Hopes Of Saving Fargo, ND From Flooding
Linda Young - AHN Editor - http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7014578727
March 27, 2009 10:12 a.m. EST

Fargo, ND (AHN) - The Red River is at a record high 40.44 feet in Fargo and still rising at midmorning on Friday.

Forecasters now think the Red River could crest at 43 feet Friday instead of Saturday, giving volunteers filling and placing sandbags in frigid temperatures less time to raise the height of the 12-mile manmade dike from the once ample 42 feet to the now planned 44 feet. ............

[L. Coyote]

21. Authorities order evacuations as Red rises to historic level

F-M authorities order evacuations as Red rises to historic level
3/27/2009 9:26:54 AM - http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=391721
Elliot Mann - Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN


FARGO, N.D. -- City leaders promised to "stand and defend" at a news conference this morning, even as the rapidly rising Red River forced them to evacuate neighborhoods and abandon some sandbag operations.

"If we're going to go down, we're going to go down swinging" said Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker at a press conference this morning.

The river rose to a 112-year high early this morning, breaching a dike south of downtown and forcing authorities to order the evacuations of about 150 homes. A large part of the core of Moorhead, Minn., on the other side of the river, also was evacuated.

.......... Through 6.5 days of work, volunteers have filled 3 million sandbags. Now, about 10 percent are being kept in heated locations so they can be removed to fill in breaches when needed ..........

[L. Coyote]

22. Fargo uses social networks to fight floodwaters = Facebook

PATRICK CONDON AP - http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2009/03/27/news/state/180621.txt



FARGO - When Kevin Tobosa got word Thursday that a friend needed help building a sandbag dike, he immediately posted a status update on his Facebook page: "Heading to 2825 Lilac Lane in North Fargo - needs to be raised another 2 feet."

When city officials needed volunteers at other dikes, Tobosa suggested setting up a Facebook group. By Thursday, it had attracted more than 4,550 members and was constantly picking up new ones.

"We really need volunteers again today to get the dikes buttoned up and fill the rest of the sandbags," read a message sent to the group Thursday.

Social-networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter have become vital tools for volunteers as they wage a desperate, round-the-clock battle ..........

[L. Coyote]

23. National Guard troops are patrolling the dikes ... an extra 800

Flood-threatened Fargo steps up Guard presence, evacuations
NTV - ‎7 minutes ago‎ - http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp?S=10082763&nav=menu605_2
AP - March 27, 2009 11:33 AM ET FARGO, ND (AP) - National Guard troops are patrolling the dikes protecting Fargo, ND, looking for possible breaches


... the city watches the Red River rise to levels not seen in more than 100 years.

It's already more than 22 feet above flood stage and is expected to crest a couple of feet higher tomorrow. ....

an extra 800 National Guard troops have been called up and people are being asked to keep the streets clear so that trucks carrying sandbags can get through.

Evacuation orders are expanding ..............

[L. Coyote]

27. Update: S.D. Guard, Highway Patrol headed to Fargo

Update: S.D. Guard, Highway Patrol headed to Fargo
http://www.argusleader.com/article/20090327/UPDATES/90327030/1003/business


March 27, 2009 - More than 250 South Dakota National Guard soldiers, dozens of Highway Patrol troopers, two helicopters and other help is being sent to Fargo, N.D., to help with flood problems. .........

[uppityperson]

24. Fargo newspaper link-updating info. Record high broken, evacuation parts of Fgo/Mrhd

http://www.inforum.com/

[L. Coyote]

25. Dickinson Press: CNN journalist, others arrested on Fargo dikes

CNN journalist, others arrested on Fargo dikes
The Dickinson Press - http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/articles/index.cfm?id=21588
Published Friday, March 27, 2009


FARGO (AP) — A CNN journalist and seven other people have been arrested for standing on top of sandbag levees in flood areas in the Fargo area.

Fargo Police Sgt. Ross Renner says officers made the arrests Wednesday and Thursday after seeing people climb up on the dikes. Renner says police will continue to arrest anyone they see on top of a dikes out of concern for people’s safety and the integrity of the levees. He says it’s likely all those arrested have been released. .......

[L. Coyote]

26. North Dakota, home of Bobcat Co., ... Bobcat helps defend community

Bobcat helps defend community from flooding
Mar 27, 2009
Pit & Quarry - http://www.pitandquarry.com/pitandquarry/News+Watch/Bobcat-helps-defend-community-from-flooding/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/589726



North Dakota, home of Bobcat Co., ...Fargo, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn.,... more than 100 Bobcat employees have volunteered around the clock ... Bobcat’s donation of more than two dozen machines and 40 volunteer operators has accelerated National Guard efforts to more efficiently fill a portable floodwall system ..... Bobcat equipment is highly visible in the Fargo Moorhead areas these days ....

=============
MORE IMAGES in a snowstorm:
http://www.agweb.com/Blogs/BlogPost.aspx?src=MachineryJournal&PID=3177c47f-a6b1-4cd1-9fe7-10bc3b551192

[L. Coyote]

28. "river flow is slowing" = Updated 40m ago = USA Today: Flood VIDEO

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/floods/2009-03-27-red-river-floods_N.htm

..... city leaders offered a ray of hope to the week-old fight against the rising river: The river flow is slowing and may crest at just 41.5 feet by Saturday.

PHOTO GALLERY: Record flooding swamps upper Midwest

LIVE REPORTS: Follow Twitter updates from USA TODAY's Rick Jervis

The National Weather Service had predicted the crest to be as high as 43 feet, scrambling workers and volunteers to extend temporary dikes.

Cold weather — with temperatures dropping below 10 degrees overnight — helped slow the river's flow,...

"We're pretty confident right now of the river stopping at about 41.5 feet," he said. "We still need the cooperation of everyone who's been assisting us."

He said the city isn't planning on building the city's main 43-foot dike any higher.

"We're not going to proceed to take it to 44. Is that a gamble? We don't think so," Walaker said.

..............

[uppityperson]

29. Now crest of 42 ft is expected on Sun. One more day to hold back the waters.

More snow is coming also, but having it cold will help since it won't melt, drain and raise river more right now.

[L. Coyote]

30. One day reprieve for crest, maybe foot lower projection, freezing solidifies sandbagging

Colder is better for a while under the circumstances, with receding predicted nearly a week out still.

AP - March 28, 2009 12:23 AM ET
FARGO, N.D. - http://www.kswt.com/Global/story.asp?S=10087074&nav=menu613_2_6


The National Weather Service says the crest will be near 42 feet, but that 43 feet is still a possibility. The latest reading puts the river at 40.8 feet ... the water may not begin receding before Wednesday ...

... freezing weather froze the bags solid, turning them into what townspeople hope will be a watertight barrier.

[uppityperson]

31. Are you there, or like me, living elsewhere and posting what we find?

[L. Coyote]

33. I'm surfing the web

researching the news from afar because I once
lived and worked in downtown Fargo, and I took
classes at NDSU. Family and friends are there too.

[uppityperson]

35. Thanks. Here is my most recent LBN make have crested topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3804803&mesg_id=3804803

I moved away in '76. North side, NDSU, bailed and fled. Family/friends still there

[Thor_MN]

32. Freezing solidifies in place sandbags, but makes placing them much worse

My cousin's house is about 700 feet from the river in Moorhead, fortunately north of 94. He said that catching frozen sandbags is not nearly as much fun... I heard someone on the radio this morning saying frozen sandbags are like stacking frozen turkeys.

[L. Coyote]

34. Sat. 1:11 p.m. EDT = FLOOD FORECAST "may not be as dire as originally expected"

AP Top News at 1:11 p.m. EDT - http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g8-DEMtAE9q4i4ySQ0eV_qZefmRQD9775KEG0

18 minutes ago

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The National Weather Service gave wearing Fargo residents a dose of good news Saturday, saying the flood outlook for the Red River seems to be improving and may not be as dire as originally expected. Despite the forecast revision, North Dakota officials still intensified their efforts to fend off the floodwaters, deploying high-tech Predator drone aircraft, calling up more National Guard troops and asking residents to be on the lookout for any breaches in levees.

[L. Coyote]

36. AP: Good news for Fargo, river may already have peaked

Good news for Fargo, river may already have peaked
Patrick Condon And Dan Sewell, AP – 7 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090328/ap_on_re_us/midwest_flooding


FARGO, N.D. – The bloated Red River apparently crested Saturday, forecasters said .....

North Dakota officials still intensified their efforts to fend off the high water ..... cautioned that the city still wasn't out of the woods .....

Mike Hudson of the weather service said the Red River may already have reached its high point around midnight at 40.82 feet. As of 8 a.m. it had dropped to around 40.69 feet. But the river can still fluctuate up to a foot, given that ice floes affect the flow of the river and could lead to periodic rises.

The weather service earlier had said the Red River could crest as high as 43 feet, likely on Sunday. But forecasters put out an alert Saturday saying the river is expected to remain below 41 feet and to slowly abate.

..........

[L. Coyote]

37. As of 5:15 p.m., it had dropped to 40.53, over three inches below the midnight crest.

[L. Coyote]

38. Fargo flood fighters skeptical that river has crested 3/28/2009

Fargo flood fighters skeptical that river has crested
3/28/2009 - By Elliot Mann - http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=391896
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN


FARGO, N.D. -- The Red River might have already dealt it's toughest blow, according to one federal agency, but city officials and the National Weather Service aren't dropping their guard quite yet.

...........

At 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, the Red River in Fargo was at 40.61 feet. This time of year, it's typically near 14 feet.

The weather service has not backed off its prediction that the river could reach 41 to 43 feet.

While the cold spell has helped slow the river's rapid ascent, Gust was cautious about ice dams forming .... "The river is still a threat for the next 8-10 days," Gust said.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Kaiser .... said. "It's still at the highest we've seen it, and it's going to take a long time to go down."

Record crests are usually recorded in April .....

[L. Coyote]

39. winter storm watch Monday afternoon = ND in blizzard warning

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/112748/

........... winter storm watch starting Monday afternoon
Southwest, south-central ND in blizzard warning today, Monday
The southern part of the Red River region, including Fargo and Moorhead, will be in a winter storm watch in effect Monday afternoon through Tuesday evening, the National Weather Service office in Grand Forks says. Parts of southeast North Dakota, northwest and west-central Minnesota could get more than six inches of new snow with gusty winds causing blowing and drifting snow.

.................

[L. Coyote]

40. March 29, 2009 - 9:36 PM = River dipped below 40 feet for the first time in three days ...

Holding their breath in the Valley - http://www.startribune.com/local/42096212.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ
A soaked school, a brewing blizzard and ice jams offset the good news of a lower Red River. Work is still not close to being done.
By BILL McAULIFFE, MATT McKINNEY and EMILY JOHNS, Star Tribune
Last update: March 29, 2009 - 9:36 PM


RED RIVER VALLEY - The Red River dipped below 40 feet for the first time in three days Sunday in Fargo-Moorhead. But a brewing snowstorm, a swamped school and the start of an overwhelming cleanup kept any euphoria in check.

Schools, colleges, many nonessential businesses and area roads remain closed as a new week dawned, with life far from back to normal. The river, at least, was dropping from historic levels.

After a record crest of 40.82 feet early Saturday, the Red had fallen to 39.80 feet by Sunday evening with projections of a steady decline all week.

"Amen. It's a great feeling," .........

[L. Coyote]

41. Mar. 30 New snowstorm hammers northern Plains states

New snowstorm hammers northern Plains states
March 30, 2009 3:33 PM ET - http://www.kttc.com/Global/story.asp?S=10096218


BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - At least three deaths are blamed on a storm plodding through the northern Plains that has unleashed more than a foot of snow.

The National Weather Service has posted blizzard warnings across sections of the Dakotas, Wyoming and Montana. Forecasters say more than 14 inches of snow has fallen in the Bismarck, N.D. area and more is on the way.

... South Dakota's Black Hills could see up to 30 inches ... system is "taking its time ... " ...