Evacuations ordered as Fargo levee cracks form

[SnoopDog]

Where is our government, with an army of National guard folks, doing what they are suppose to do...

Protect America....

Goddammit.



"Thousands of volunteers who have been piling sandbags for days scrambled Thursday to reach 43 feet for Fargo's dike protection, and official briefings lost the jokes and quips that had broken the tension earlier in the week. Instead, Thursday's meeting opened with a prayer."

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

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.
<snip>
Thousands of volunteers who have been piling sandbags for days scrambled Thursday to reach 43 feet for Fargo's dike protection, and official briefings lost the jokes and quips that had broken the tension earlier in the week. Instead, Thursday's meeting opened with a prayer.
<snip>

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29873706/

[SnoopDog]

1. So, no one cares about Fargo, don't ya know...hey?

[laundry_queen]

2. aw crap.

I care, here's a K&R for ya.

[SnoopDog]

3. It is not for me, my friend...

I am in Nevada.... It is for my fellow American.

My point is, where is our government, where are the 'thousands' of National Guard that should be providing assistance.

...?

[ColbertWatcher]

4. I have to admit I've been slow to get news.

But, I've been following it.

I care.

[doyourealize1]

5. National guard is in Fargo already

Hoeven was calling for 500 more National Guard members to join 900 already part of the effort.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090326/ap_on_re_us/midwest_flooding

[SnoopDog]

6. That is a good thing...But,

In a real America, we would be sending Thousands to fight this disaster.

[Bluebear]

18. Gee, a whole 900. How many National Guard are in Iraq?

[uppityperson]

7. Ntl Guard is there. Here is local news source and a live cam

http://www.inforum.com/
DU link where more info is...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5337836&mesg_id=5337836

2 things that freak me out.
1) They are evacuating MeritCare hospital which won't flood, thinking because it is sub-freezing and if power/water mess up, or if roads flood and can't get out.
2) This flood will top permanent levees at Island Park. Here is live cam there, if it works for you...
http://www.cityoffargo.com/Flood09/FloodWatchWebCam.aspx

Former Fargo girl here, transplanted to west coast.

[uppityperson]

8. Don't forget it is sub-freezing and snowing also.

[juajen]

9. I'm praying. That's about all I can do. God Bless these wonderful

brave people.

[Maru Kitteh]

10. If I had break this week I'd be there in a heartbeat. Much of Nebraska is praying for you

I'm predisposed probably to appreciate the quiet open splendor of North Dakota. I found it beautiful.

[uppityperson]

11. It is not just Fargo, but Moorhead and other cities/towns/rural areas also

Please be aware that the media is talking about Fargo, but Moorhead is right across the river and is having serious flooding also. The area is the FM area, or Fargo-Moorhead. One is ND, one is MN, one gets mentioned more on the news even though that movie "Fargo" was actually filmed in Breckinridge, MN.

Also there are many other towns and rural areas along the Red, and other flooding rivers, that are having flooding also, people sandbagging, getting helicopter rescued.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iwmvkkhCZHwGB2XCsYFtVbw-2sowD975KL1O0

OXBOW, N.D. (AP) — Adrenaline and two hours of sleep got Mike Wieser through the night. But as he gasped for air and looked wearily at his country home slowly being absorbed by a lake of flood water, the new father looked like he would soon be running on empty.

Water was seeping through his homemade dike, he was counting on three pumps to continue spitting out more water than was coming in, and the only other man there to keep it all afloat on Wednesday was his father-in-law. "It's closing in," he said.

Others are in the same boat. While Fargo and Bismarck get most of the attention as floodwaters approach, people in the countryside are quietly, and wearily, fighting a flood that has already arrived.

"They don't believe Fargo is going to give them any help," 20-year rural mail carrier Rhonda Wyum said about rural residents while snow swirled around her SUV on an icy intersection about 15 miles south of Fargo. She was unable to deliver mail to some residents because of flooded roads and said conditions were worse than in 1997, when a historic flood ravaged the area.

"If you listen to the news, it's all Fargo. A lot of these little townships around here are struggling, and people don't know it." Cass County Sheriff Paul D. Laney said 46 people had been rescued or evacuated from 15 homes in Oxbow and a six-mile corridor to the north. Laney expected more evacuations Thursday.

That said, here is another website about the flood http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/fargoflood/
Current water levels at varied places along the Red River http://www.ndsu.edu/fargo_geology/floodgage.htm

40.01 ft. This is incredible.

[Mabus]

12. My friends in Moorhead report they've been sandbagging for up to 16 hours a day

The residents are working their asses off. The last report I got from one of them was about an hour ago. They're at home resting and planning on going out again tomorrow.

[uppityperson]

13. Best wishes to them. I did that in the '69 flood.

It was fun and tiring, I was much younger and dumber. Good luck to them

[Mabus]

26. Last message from an hour ago

from one their oldest kids via Facebook: Biggest enemy for newest "evacuation" zone is the sewer drains. Parents' basement all plugged up. Hope my handy work holds.

[uppityperson]

35. They are evacuating more of Moorhead due to sewer backup

We had this happen in Fargo, ended up with a set of balls, plugs and sticks to put in place in every basement drain/toilet. It makes a mess.

[Mabus]

50. Thanks for the updates and information

The last I heard they were still in the house and have enough fresh water to hold out for several days. Otherwise, they've done all they can with the house, have their papers with them and have gone back out to help.

[MonteLukast]

14. Is that a record rise?

43 feet...

[uppityperson]

17. Yes, here is a graph of heights of floods. '97 was huge, I was there for '69

[SoCalDem]

15. Levees will only hold just so much water back..

Building near or downstream from them is always a crap-shoot.. Most of the time you get lucky..and then you don't :(

The best course is to not build homes & permanent businesses near rivers, and to let them be what they are..allowing plenty of space for them to flood when they "have to", but humans never do that.. :(

[uppityperson]

19. though originally towns were settled on rivers for transportation purposes

One problem with predicting how high the Red River will go is that once it tops a bank, or levee, it spreads wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy out over the flatlands, making it difficult to tell how high the river will continue to climb.

They've removed neighborhoods that got badly flooded during '69 flood. I remember sandbagging them and they are just...gone... now. City bought them and tore down the houses.

This is a record flood.

[ColbertWatcher]

21. I just read that the river is only 9,200 years old.

It hasn't had time to carve out its own valley, so it fills up the Glacial Lake Agassiz (number 3 and dotted line in the image on the lower left.



That's some pretty scary stuff.

[ColbertWatcher]

22. Here's another illustration ...

[uppityperson]

31. It is very flat there and a ft in elevation makes a huge difference. water spreads wayyy out

If you go a bit east of the Red River, you can see where Agassiz's edge is. Same to west. There are many rural towns and communities and farms in the lakebed also getting flooded. Lots of great black soil there for growing things too. The soil is black. It is pretty amazing.

[ColbertWatcher]

36. "you can see where Agassiz's edge is." I'd like to see that. n/t

[uppityperson]

39. It's cool, head towards Buffalo Park and suddenly the ground rises a bit

It isn't a bluff or any such thing, but more like you go up a mound that extends n/s, then you have small rises/dips/hills.

Went back to visit on the train yrs back with child upJr. Gave Jr the camera and told him to take picts of what found interesting. After developing, picts were of grain towers at towns since had never seen anything like that. Flat brown snowy ground with grain elevators.

[SoCalDem]

24. April's a baaaad month

:(

[uppityperson]

16. More on evacuations so far...

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/235400

Floodwaters forced residents to flee to higher ground Thursday in Fargo, Moorhead and the surrounding area, as forecasters warned that the Red River could reach a record 43 feet by Saturday.

In south Fargo, police, firefighters and National Guard members evacuated the Riverview Place senior living center and 35 to 40 homes in the River Vili subdivision after finding cracks in an earthen dike.

In Moorhead, city officials released a statement just before 8 p.m. directing all residents living between Interstate 94 and 50th Avenue South and west of Eighth Street to evacuate the area immediately. Minnesota law does not allow for mandatory evacuations, but Moorhead City Manager Mike Redlinger said residents were strongly urged to comply.
(clip)
City leaders requested a 24-hour voluntary evacuation of residents living between primary levees and backup dikes. Officials will reassess the situation today, and the evacuation could become mandatory, City Administrator Pat Zavoral said. Walaker thought the affected areas are home to about 1,000 residents. The North Dakota National Guard is prepared to evacuate up to 20,000 residents in the first phase of a mandatory evacuation, said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk.

Also, MeritCare officials said that after consulting with local and state emergency officials, they were evacuating patients from all Fargo MeritCare hospitals. The number of patients being evacuated to regional hospitals was 180, with conditions from minor to critical. ..(much more)

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/235396/

Mark and Shanon Lindberg have lived in Oakport Township north of Moorhead for 16 years and endured four floods. Now, for the first time, they’ve evacuated their home. “The way the river is coming up, we decided it was the right thing to do,” Shanon Lindberg said.

Many other Oakport residents – the township has about 550 homes – also are expected to leave. “We want people to get out,” Greg Anderson, chairman of the Oakport Township Board, said Thursday night. He was uncertain how many had left.

Clay County Sheriff Bill Bergquist on Thursday urged Oakport residents – especially those living west of the coulee that runs through the township – to evacuate before the rapidly rising Red River cuts off all roads there. By late Thursday afternoon, several streets in Oakport were under water, increasing the impetus for residents to leave quickly.

Bergquist also recommended that residents of Georgetown, north of Oakport, evacuate because of the rising Red. It was unclear Thursday how many Georgetown residents had left, said Dan Olson, a spokesman for the Clay County Emergency Operations Center....(more)

[uppityperson]

20. Another leak:S Fgo, S River Rd/Lindenwood drive. Time to evac @ 2AM

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/235422/group/home/

The Fargo Police Department issued a mandatory evacuation of all residences east of Fourth Street South between South River Road and Lindenwood Drive at 2:09 this morning. There has been a flood protection breech at Linden Avenue, east of Fourth Street South.

The neighborhood is just north of Lindenwood Park, a few blocks south of the city's water plant.

Due to the immediate threat of rising flood water, the City of Fargo is ordering a mandatory evacuation. Residents of this area of the city should immediately proceed west of the neighborhood.

Residents who do not have an alternative place to stay may seek emergency shelter at Fargo South Campus II (Agassiz). Additional shelters will be designated as needed.

Residents should stay tuned in to WDAY AM 970 or connected to www.inforum.com for additional evacuation and temporary shelter information.

This is by Lindenwood Park, overlooking it and the river. A rather triangular section. Lindenwood Park is low and should be full of water, but I think there will be more leaks, failures, esp since the rive hasn't crested yet, and the dikes will have to hold for a few days. I hope this is only caution, but crap.

[malaise]

23. I 'm watching on the Weather Channel

The situation is getting very serious.

All of North Dakota has been declared a Federal Emergency.

[Qanisqineq]

25. I wish I could be there to help

I am feeling very homesick during all this. Part of me feels like I should be glad I am not there for this flood like I was in 1997. But a bigger part of me feels like I want to be there with my family and go through it together. My family members in Fargo are leaving until this is over and going to my parent's house further west -- which is currently surrounded by water but the water level is going down.

[Odin2005]

27. The whole region is in a state of barely contained panic. And the Gaurd IS here.

I live in downtown Moorhead about 12 blocks east of the river. I have all my important stuff ready to go if a general evacuation is ordered.

[Mabus]

28. I've got friends near the MSUM campus

The latest message from them is: "we are strongly advised to evacuate, but we are close to the border of 8th street. We plugged the drains in the basement and bought some water. Lord, I'm so tired. How long can this go on?"

I know they've been out most of the week doing sandbag duty. My thoughts are with you all.

[uppityperson]

32. Here's the story on that.

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/235440/group/home/
FLOOD UPDATE: MSUM sends students off campus for now
MOORHEAD - Minnesota State University Moorhead has asked students to go home or find a place to stay outside the flood area, according to a news release. Officials there said there is no imminent danger to the campus, which is one of the highest spots in the city. However, the threat of water in surrounding streets raises concerns about getting to and from the campus. Arrangements are being made through campus housing for students living in residence halls who don’t have a place to go.

By: Staff report, INFORUM


MOORHEAD - Minnesota State University Moorhead has asked students to go home or find a place to stay outside the flood area, according to a news release. Officials there said there is no imminent danger to the campus, which is one of the highest spots in the city. However, the threat of water in surrounding streets raises concerns about getting to and from the campus. Arrangements are being made through campus housing for students living in residence halls who don’t have a place to go.

[Mabus]

29. If you know anyone that needs a place to stay, let me know

One of my friends is putting people up and still has some space. I have his phone number.

[ensho]

30. more of our Natl. Guard and our US military should be there helping

this flooding will get worse and the damage huge. at the same time elsewhere, there is a blizzard going on and in another place are Severe storms with tornados.

and

Barack Obama may delay signing up to Copenhagen climate change deal

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/mar/25/barack-obama-climate-copenhagen-delay


(you won't want to believe the reason)

[uppityperson]

33. Photos evacing last night@ 2 AM in the snow

http://www.inforum.com/event/photogallery/id/1511/

Emergency personnel walk the neighborhood north of Fargo's Lindenwood Park early Friday morning after the city ordered a mandatory evacuation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identified a nearby portion of the primary dike that had been weakened by erosion. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor

[uppityperson]

34. More Moorhead residents told to evacuate homes (core advised to leave, sewers backing up)

This is a big section of town, nearest the river. Storm sewers are starting to back up into houses. Some places the sanitary and storm sewers feed into each other and it can make a mess. We used to put a ball in the basement toilet, then a stick up to the ceiling, same with drain in basement floor.

Since the frost level is 3-4 ft down, most places have basements. Which come in handy during tornadoes, but not so much during floods.

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/235427/group/home/

In another stunning development, Moorhead advised all residents in the city’s core to evacuate this morning - the second mass evacuation for the city in less than 12 hours.

Based on the latest crest prediction of 42 feet for the Red River, Moorhead police want residents living north of Interstate 94, south of Main Avenue and west of Eighth Street South.

Storm sewers, such as those found on Rivershore Drive, are starting to back up with water, according to a news release issued by the city at 6:17 this morning.

[malaise]

38. Stay safe everyone

:grouphug:

[uppityperson]

37. Westboro Baptist Church thanks God for North Dakota’s flooding

"Evil people of ND"? WTF? While there are some very good, open minded, liberal people ther (like my folks), it is very conservative and anti-big-gvt and anti-abortion also. Batshit crazy they are.


http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/235438/group/home/

The Westboro Baptist Church, whose members tour the country protesting at military funerals because they claim America is tolerant of homosexuality, is thanking God for record flooding in North Dakota.

“God sent the flood waters to cover the evil people of Bismarck and Fargo, ND, where you flipped off God and raised your hands against His anointed by criminalizing WBC’s gospel preaching against” gays and their supporters, declared a statement released Wednesday by the church, which is in Topeka, Kan.

The statement referred to House Bill 1040, a North Dakota state law passed in January 2007 that bars protestors from getting within 300 feet of a funeral. That law was aimed at the Westboro Baptists and its members, who protest because they believe soldiers’ deaths are God’s punishment for America’s support of gays.

[ColbertWatcher]

40. Any word yet on how to donate/help people in ND, SD, MN?

It would be nice to donate something in Phelp's name and send him a postcard saying so!

[uppityperson]

41. My first response would be Salvation Army, haven't heard yet

When I hear, I will post. If you're in the area, was sandbagging and dike watches. Take cookies, food? Go to inforum.com and look at articles, comment on them as local people are reading there and knowing people outside are watching can help. When water drops next wk, may be more specific ideas.

[ColbertWatcher]

42. I read that they prefer money to donations of food, etc.

But, I was unable to confirm the info as legit.

Will look some more, thank you.

[uppityperson]

44. From dealing with donations post Katrina, I generally recommend SA to Redcross

as they seem to get more out right away to the people who need it in emergencies. I'd say money rather than stuff at this point. Was thinking if you were local to take food to people, but for donations probably money.

As the next few days pass, things will become more clear. Questions now are how high will the river go, will it top which dikes/levees, and what will hold the water back for the 3-4 days needed. Rather a hurry up, now wait, now hurry, now wait situation.

[uppityperson]

45. Volunteers not needed at this time at shelter in Central Cass

http://www.areavoices.com/springflood/?blog=46999

As the Red Cross prepares the Central Cass School as a shelter to accomodate up to 1,500 evacuees, they have received an overwhelming turnout of volunteers, in excess of 509. They are asking those who have turned out to return later to assist during the duration of the stay of those displaced from the Fargo flooding. In addition, those volunteers who are able are asked to participate in sandbagging on the north side of Fargo, and are making arrangements to provide bussing to and from that area.

I am sure that need will become apparent next wk.

[Odin2005]

59. If those fuckers come here I will personally pump them full of buckshot!

:grr:

[uppityperson]

43. List of Cass County (ND) neighborhoods to evacuate...

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/235443/
The Cass County Commission today issued a mandatory evacuation advisory for the following neighborhoods:

- Chrisan

- Forest River, including Maple Prairie and Orchard Glen

- Round Hill

- Granberg

- Amber Plains

- Rivershore

- Heritage Hills

- Eagles Nest

- Butcher Block

Residents, including volunteers working in those areas, are advised to evacuate during daylight hours. For assistance, call [phone].

Sheriff Paul Laney called the evacuation advisory a precautionary measure. "We have a duty to advise them that they are better off somewhere else right now," Laney said.

Although the advisory has the word "mandatory," people will not be forcibly removed or arrested if they choose to stay. The commission also authorized Cass County leaders to issue similar evacuation advisories for other neighborhoods as deemed necessary.

[uppityperson]

46. Alexandria (MF) offering free hotel rooms to evacuees

http://www.areavoices.com/springflood/?blog=47019
The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce has offered 60 hotel rooms and other accommodations that they are offering for free to evacuees. Call [phone] for more information.

[uppityperson]

47. Crest remains 41-42 ft, maybe 43, more snow on the way

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/235447/group/home/

The National Weather Service remains confident today in predicting a Red River crest of 41 to 42 feet in Fargo-Moorhead beginning Saturday, but allows for a possible 43-foot peak. That word came as forecasters are watching another storm system moving in from the west that could bring more snow to the area on Monday.

The track of the storm remains uncertain, but any snow would come at a time of sustained very high Red River levels through Fargo-Moorhead.

The WDAY forecast for Monday calls for a chance of snow, depending on the path of the system, and a high of 30 degrees. “A direct hit could result in several inches of snow,” according to the Web site. However, the cold snap that has settled over the valley, however, is helping to hold back flows into streams and rivers.

The result is the crest seems to have plateaued for a time today at 40.66 feet as the rate of increase has slowed....

[uppityperson]

48. House fire reported in flooded Oakport Township (how to get there?)

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/235450/group/home/
Firefighters were responding to a house fire at 5704 Elm St., just off Wall Street in flooded Oakport Township north of Moorhead.

The call came in around 3 p.m. Firefighters were having difficulty finding a dry route to the fire.

[uppityperson]

49. MN National Guard info...

http://www.areavoices.com/springflood/?blog=47039
Nearly 600 Minnesota National Guard soldiers and airmen are providing security patrol at sandbag sites, as well as assisting with evacuations and traffic control. The Guard has added 10 more heavy transport vehicles as needed for sandbag movement.

The Minnesota National Guard is actively supporting the Clay County Sheriff’s Office with dike security patrols and dike quick-reaction patrols, ready to surge with sandbagging operations or dike repair operations, as needed.
(clip)

U.S. Coastguard has two additional helicopters, three additional airboats and one C130 en route to Grand Forks....

[uppityperson]

51. Red's rise slows considerably after breaking record

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/235454/group/home/
The Red River’s rise in Fargo-Moorhead has slowed considerably today, which city officials said is an encouraging development in the fight against record high waters.

After passing the previous record of 40.1 feet at about 2 a.m. today, the river was at a height of 40.61 feet at 9:15 a.m., 40.64 feet at 11:45 a.m., 40.66 feet at both 12:15 and 1:15 p.m., and 40.72 feet at 3:15 p.m.

“It’s really flat right now,” Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker said at a 2 p.m. press conference, adding that some people in southern areas of Fargo said the river level had been flat for three hours. “That’s all good news,” he said. “Whether it’s part of the temperature process, or whether it’s God’s intervention or whatever, it’s always good news that the river starts slowing down a little bit.”

City Commissioner Tim Mahoney said the city was going into dike monitoring mode. Sandbagging operations will cease at 6 p.m., and travel restrictions on major arterial roads will be lifted at that time, he said.

[uppityperson]

52. Ntl Guard patrolling dikes (article..)

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/235480/group/home/
8 teams patrolling dikes every two hours
To protect the integrity of dikes in the City of Fargo, the National Guard will patrol all dikes no less than every two hour, according to a news release.

By: Forum staff report, INFORUM

To protect the integrity of dikes in the City of Fargo, the National Guard will patrol all dikes no less than every two hour, according to a news release.

If a citizen sees a substantial leak they are asked to call 701-241-1545.

There are 58 two-person teams assigned to monitor dike areas. Those teams will assist residents with pumping water if necessary. The Fargo Fire Department and National Guard are also setting up quick response team staging areas throughout the City which include manpower, sand and equipment.

If citizens have a dike crisis they are asked to call 911. They stress that sepage is not a crisis.

[uppityperson]

53. Fargo strongly encourages Harwood Drive, Hackberry and South River Drive residents to evacuate

http://www.areavoices.com/springflood/?blog=47070
Fargo strongly encourages Harwood Drive, Hackberry and South River Drive residents to evacuate

The residents of Harwood Drive, Hackberry and South River Drive, who live along the river, are being strongly encouraged to voluntarily evacuate. A Code-Red message has been sent out to the citizens in this are

[EFerrari]

54. Be careful DUers! Check back in when you can but stay safe.

:grouphug:

[SoCalDem]

55. "Riverview Estates" is part of the problem

Rivers have been flooding since they became rivers. It's what rivers do. It;s how soil gets replenished, how deltas form, how marshes become marshes.

PEOPLE come along and want to/need to "use" the river.. They like to live near it, play in it/on it, and they forget how powerful even a small stream can be when enough weather circumstances intervene..

Permanent structures, expensive structures, built within a floodplain area, are designed to last a LONG time, and floods come along and wipe them out, and then the "rinse-repeat" cycle starts all over again..:(

We cannot control all of nature, and even though we try, we always "lose"..

I just hope that no one loses their life ...

[uppityperson]

57. Partially right. However, some homes 1 block from the river are in less danger of flooding than

others further out. For instance, my family's home was 1 block from the river, but has never flooded. It is in the "500 yr FEMA floodplain", yet the next door neighbor's home isn't. Across the street is, but our back yard and neighbors there would stay dry. 15 blocks to the west away from the river are much more in danger of flooding since there is a shallow dip leading to them.

I agree though that building in low areas is stupid. You may be happy to know that various areas were not allowed to be rebuilt on after both the 1969 and 1997 floods.

The area is the bottom of a lakebed, lake Agassiz, which drained only 9200 yrs ago. Rivers have cut their way through it, leaving a really wide flat area, with minimal ups and downs. And those minimal ups and downs make a difference.

[Odin2005]

60. I agree completely. People build way to close to the river.

There are many local examples of river-bank erosion caused by the Red's slow meandering damaging local homes, and even in one case a road, Elm Street in North Fargo. Then there is flooding, which is a perfectly normal occurrence on the Red River because of it's geography.

You can't fight the river, the river always wins. Erosion is one of the Earth's great unstoppable forces.

[uppityperson]

61. Just talked with a cousin out by Drainage 27

said the evac of MeritCare and nursing homes have been precautionary due to sewer concerns (your people doing ok?) They've signed up for 2 hr dike patrols down the added to dike and are just watching and hanging in there. No worries. Just because they live next to the big dike protecting S Fargo, just because if it were to break downtown would flood, hey. We've got it under control. Dikes are mostly at 43 ft and all seems to be calming down, no worries.

There were houses removed from Elm st right n of el zagel after '69 flood, but why they heck did they allow all those fancy dancy houses in Elm circle where we used to play and fly model airplanes? Get a clue, it's LOW there. Good grief. Expensive homes in dips.

So, yours doing ok now?

[Odin2005]

62. I live at 11th St. and 2nd Ave South in Moorhead, we are OK here.

Right by El Zagel is where the river is eroding out Elm Street. there used to be HOUSES there!?! :wow:

[uppityperson]

63. Yup.'69 flood we tried to save it. Sandbagged between it & river, then

sandbagged next to it, then sandbagged through the house which was rather fun, carrying sandbags into rooms and dropping them. It was condemned and removed afterwards. That house was on east side of Elm at north side of the bowl. Elm didn't used to be paved along the bowl when I was a kid, they let it overflow into the bowl rather than stopping it. Then they paved the road, built the dike.

There used to be houses on Moorhead side next to river by the northernmost downtown bridge, those got removed around then also. After '97 flood, bunch of homes by Oak Grove were bought out and torn down. I think there is still one hold-out left, if you go look later it may still be there. One house all by it's lonesome.

[Odin2005]

64. Wow! the river must have really eaten away at the area by El Zagel in the last 40 years!

Google map link to Elm Street:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=46.896947,-96.775678&spn=0.005036,0.009656&t=h&z=17

[uppityperson]

65. Volunteers needed desparately in north Fargo (Woodcrest)

This neighborhood was the other place we spent time diking in '69. Good grief, was that really 40yrs ago? C.r.a.p.

http://www.areavoices.com/springflood/?blog=47084
North Fargo volunteers desperately needed to fill and place sandbags immediately, according to a CodeRED alert issued moments ago.

All volunteers should walk to 120 North Woodcrest Drive, where city staff will be dropping off sandbags, according to a recording by Fargo Police Lt. Gene Anderson.

"Volunteers are desperately needed," the recording said.

[malaise]

66. You might want to start a separate thread calling for volunteers

Stay safe.

[uppityperson]

67. I'm sort of kicking while I add new stuff. I'm in WA, grew up in Fargo

Hence what and where they are talking about makes sense so am also hoping to be able to interpret it all. It is odd, this call for help since I remember sandbagging there, omg 40 yrs ago. I am dating myself.

New news, police are reopening the major thoroughfares through town, Country Club addition have been evacuated as road may become impassible if temp dike leak happens. I-94 eastbound Jamestown-Fargo is reopened.

AHA! Crest expected Sun, not Sat at 42-43 ft. Not cresting for another day means another day the dikes have to hold.

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/235503/group/home/
FARGO - The National Weather Service now forecasts the Red River will crest at 42 feet on Sunday, not Saturday as earlier predicted, but could still go as high as 43 feet.

The service's Web site shows the river cresting at 42 feet midday Sunday.

[uppityperson]

68. When I was a kid and walked uphill to school both ways, in Fargo...

there was no dike blocking off elZagel bowl. It flooded every yr. I am not sure when the clubhouse was built, but recollect them putting plywood up against the outside of downstairs windows to hold the water out. They put the dike and road in, maybe 67ish? Maybe it was after the '69 flood. There might have been a dirt road there, but if there was a dike in '69 it was quite low.

Now there is a road (extension of Elm?) and bike trail all the way down to the dam. Those houses in that area between Elm and the river near the dam weren't there when I was a kid. We ran amok out there, my dad fly model airplane in circle. We were scared of the "hobos" down by the river, and the dam since Going Near it would Kill You.

Actually I saw the guy who went over the south dam in early 70's, was trying to wade across in the summer, slipped and fell. Went to call cops to tell them some fool was on the dam, but couldn't find a phone. A friend who was there later told me about it. So the dams are dangerous, thanks mom and dad.

That google picture is of the river being high, not its normal self. Not like it is now, but higher than typical.

Hope you're doing ok.

[Raine1967]

56. FEMA Chief? Why hasn't congress voted

on Obama's nominee, Craig Fugate? Who's in charge at FEMA right now?

[seaglass]

58. FEMA is under DHS now. My husband just left for ND today from MA

these are the resources that are being provided to ND

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=47805