Spring Time is Flood Time

[hotrod]

The flood crest was upped from 41 to 41 to 42 ft with an outside shot at 43 ft.
I was talking to a payloader operator working on a dike in front of my work at noon and that particular dike was good to just over 43 ft.
Things dont look good right now..We took a vote at the shop late this afternoon an decided not to open up tommorow. So Im safe and warm at home up in the hills..Traffic is a nightmare, Ive been parking in moorehead and hoofing it across the bridge on NP avenue, thats the one thats orange and almost underwater. The shop I work in is in the background, lots of I beams etc underwater. Odds are that bridge is the one you will see on the news, they are crawling all over the place. I guess we prepare for the worst and pray for the best...right now I dont see me going back to work for a couple weeks....
www.wday.com had some good footage if your looking. I snapped a bunch of pics today but havent uploaded them yet..More to follow im sure.
hang tough and have your poop in a group up north bigwoods!!!
Paul

[dakotamouse]

Tonight on our local news they said the high water mark in Fargo may last as long as a week. That is really scary! Gotta say some prayers for the dikes.

[hotrod]

I looked at the dikes around my work in our yard and walked away shaking my head, seems like they could have done better but then hey, they are the engineers they know and I suppose we should trust them. Water was already part ways up one at 4:30 and to add 2 more ft of water on that aint gonna work out for the best...
looks like you guys are still playing around with the dupont redstick on the missouri eh?? hows that going??
Paul

[drafter]

I just got home from Grand Forks seeing my daughter at UND and they canceled classes until the 30th. There is alot of water and the stuff from Fargo isn't there yet. I am sure they are getting a little worried if the new dike system is going to work.

[hotrod]

They are evacuating the merit care hospitals as I type....not good....
I only hope for the best outcome for the entire valley clean up to the peg..
They are also emptying out nursing homes. I wonder if they can make us work if thers noplace to take us if we get injured??

[Bigwoods]

Howdy,

I made it home from Grand Forks today. I have my choice if 4 ways usually, but today was down to one and the water was crossing to highway. I will be home for the duration I think. We will be taking things out of the basement tomorrow, getting pumps ready and moving vehicle to the safest areas.

We not only have to worry about the water coming from the Red River, but we also get the overland water from the East. Like I said, our house has never flooded, but this seem like an unusual year. I still have to relocate some snow tomorrow from the storm.

Things will be better in a few weeks, Lord willing.

[Bigwoods]

hotrod and everyone
I just saw a report they are evacuating Meritcare Hospital. This is really serious. Everyone has worked so hard in this fight but I fear for the worse. I pray there will be no loss of life. The National Guard will be sandbagging in the most dangerous areas.


Somehow we will all get through this.

[hotrod]

lets hope in a month and a half we are mowing grass and this has all past...

[Micro469]

If this happens every year, How come your Local government isn't doing something about it???

[hotrod]

it floods a bit every year but seldom to this magnitude..
Ive built TONS of flood control stuff since 1997 but it still comes down to a toss of the dice.
Personally I dont think anyone should live in a floodplain but we all gotta be someplace.
It is so hard to get money to build anything like greenways or diversion channels like winnipeg has, its just not there.....

[BILLYL]

All-

It sounds like this is going to be a big one. Please stay safe and as dry as you can. Our prayers are with you all!

Stay in touch and let us know how you all are doing............


Bill

[dakotamouse]

Things along the Missouri have improved greatly. But we are still nervous with the chance of another major storm next week.

Many of the evacuees from Fargo will be coming to the University of Mary. Where they will be high and dry on the hill.

This is one for the record books.

[drafter]

A good friend of my daughter is going to the University of Mary. UND in Grand Forks has cancelled classes until the 31th and asked the kids to be on standby in case they need sandbaggers. I am glad to hear that the water is dropping out there. The Red Lake river in Crookston may have crested yesterday. Fargo seems to have their hands full at the moment.

[Bigwoods]

John,

I'll try to answer the best I can. All of the cities have worked on this over the years. The Flood of '97 was suppose to be a 500 year flood. Grand Forks is 90 miles North of Fargo and have in place a $410 Million dike & greenway system to protect GF and East Grand Forks Minn. It has not truly been tested, but it will be this year. All of this water runs North into Winnipeg and they have a fantastic by pass system, although they also are evacuating some homes around Lake Winnipeg because of the unusual amount of water.

Fargo had flooding in 97 but thought they had things under control and would not see a 500 year flood again. A lot of things contribute to the high water. Last fall was wet and the grounds is saturated and frozen. There was also more snow and water this year. The other "touchy" subject in this area is farm land that is ditched and drained to clear the fields as fast as possible. That is why I worry more about overland flooding in my area.

I think the City and States do as much as hey can, but there is always legal problems when you are dealing with Cities, States and even Countries when it comes to water. We even have problems with law suits in our county.

The good part is that in the time of need we all help each other. Cities, states and our Canadian friends do their best to protect their own and to help their neighbors.

I would anticipate Fargo building a huge dike system after this event.

[hotrod]

The city of fargo has been after my work for decades to move but they dont want to buy us out, the battle just keeps going round and round and this is one story of possibly thousands..IF Fargo is going to continue to grow like it has or even survive as is it needs to change its ways...
Very well said bigwoods, there are thousands of acres of corn still left standing here because of how wet it was last fall...