March 25, 2009

North Dakota's Rising Rivers

Melting snow, ice jams and a blizzard create dangerous flooding conditions in North Dakota

By Lorin Driggs

Residents of Bismarck, Fargo and other towns in North Dakota as well as towns in western Minnesota took steps on Wednesday to protect their homes and businesses from rising flood waters. As many as eight rivers in the region are expected to reach flood levels over the next few days.

TOM STROMME—THE TRIBUNE/AP A group of cattle is trapped by rising water near Linton, North Dakota.

To make matters worse, a blizzard dumped more than 8 inches of snow in the Bismarck area on Tuesday, adding to the challenges facing residents. And an ice jam south of Bismarck threatened to send the backed up waters of the Missouri River over its banks and into the streets of the city. An ice jam occurs when large chunks of ice clog the natural flow of a river so that the water backs up behind it. Members of the National Guard who flew over the Missouri River on Wednesday were considering using explosives to break up the largest ice jams.

Residents Get Ready

To the east in Fargo, North Dakota's largest city, residents prepared for flooding from the Red River. By early Wednesday, the river was measured at almost 34 feet, already more than 15 feet above flood stage. The river is expected to crest, or reach its highest level, Friday evening, measuring between 39 and 41 feet. This could cause severe flooding and extensive damage.

Volunteers throughout the area filled sandbags in an effort to hold back the rising waters and protect homes and businesses. Officials ordered residents of some areas to evacuate, or leave, and warned others to prepare for possible evacuation over the next few days. When the evacuation order went out for Fox Island, on the Missouri River just south of Bismarck, residents Jane and Michael Pole didn't have to be convinced. "We just grabbed a bag, threw some stuff in and left," Jane Pole said.

President Obama has declared North Dakota a federal disaster area. This means that the federal government will help pay for the cost of fighting the floods and the expensive clean-up in the coming days and weeks.

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