Fargo braces as river at 40.76 feet and rising

Fargo, ND 12h Avenue N Bridge, underwater at 32.4 feet on March 24th

By Stephen Pate, NJN Network, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada, March 27, 2009, 7:40 ET

At 18:15 local time the river was 40.76 feet above normal. The critical point of 42 feet. The rise today has slowed somewhat with the water passing 39.99 at midnight on March 26, 2009. Various reports claim the cold weather is helping to slow it down but the falling snow is making it worse. The situation in Fargo is tense. Local residents are working around the clock to exhaustion trying to put more sand bags in place. As the Mayor says, the people of Fargo will not go down without a fight. 58 teams are patrolling the dikes every two hours.

Far away in Canada it’s hard to imagine how it feels. I was there just after the last flood in 1997 which crested under 40 feet. Many of my friends said it was a terrible crisis with parts of the town under water and the uncertainty of the outcome. People were sandbagging their back yards as the water rose. Grand Forks down stream had been devastated by flood and fire. Of course, in Canada along the river damage was extensive.

RED RIVER OF THE NORTH AT FARGO, ND

The US Geological Survey has more information and it’s apparent the oldest record from 1897 has been exceeded today.

Parts of the downtown have been evacuated.

Overnight will tell the tale, as people work beyond tired, beyond exhaustion to save their town and their homes.

An hour ago, a CODE RED Alert was issued for sandbagging

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.

Fargo ND, 14th Ave and Elm St at the dike with the river at 39.4 feet