The Flood Channel

Fargo, Cass County disagree on sales tax increase, will both vote on measures

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:47:25 +0000

In a surprising twist, Fargo and Cass County representatives decided today that each body will be asked to approve half-percent sales taxes to help pay for a permanent flood control project for the Fargo-Moorhead area.

FEMA flood money flowing into ND

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:24:01 +0000

Federal Emergency Management Agency money is starting to flow into North Dakota to help pay for this spring’s flood fight.

FEMA says it has obligated the first $843,000. The money will go toward levee construction, sandbagging and other flood-fighting measures undertaken in Fargo.

The federal money will pay for 75 percent of the cost of those measures. The state is responsible for 10 percent and local governments 15 percent.

Red continues gradual decline in Fargo, expected to drop below major flood stage Wednesday

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:22:55 +0000

The Red River continues its gradual decline in Fargo-Moorhead and remains about a foot above major flood stage this morning.

Sandbag Levee Removal Assistance Program

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:58:30 +0000

The City of Fargo has developed a program to provide assistance for property owners unable to remove sandbags used to protect their property during the flood. Those seeking assistance must submit an application. Applications for City assisted removal will be accepted through Wednesday, April 7, 2010. At that time the City will assess the need and contract for the removal of sandbags. The anticipated date to begin removals under the City contract is April 19, 2010. Applications can be downloaded from the City of Fargo Web site homepage at www.cityoffargo.com or picked up at the City Planning Office, 200 3^rd St. N. during business hours. Residents with questions can call

701-241-1474.

ND update on flooded roads

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:07:41 +0000

Water on ND Highway 46 by Kindred has receded

The water on ND Highway 46 one mile west of Kindred has receded and traffic speeds are back to normal.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation urges motorists to drive with caution as flooding continues to affect parts of the state. Water has receded in some areas, but flooding continues to affect road conditions in other areas.

The NDDOT has the following road and lane closures in place throughout North Dakota:

The following highways/areas are closed due to water over the roadway:

· ND Highway 5, twelve miles south of Pembina. Motorists should use alternate route.

· ND Highway 66, one mile east of Drayton. Motorists should use alternate route.

· ND Highway 54, between I-29 and Oslo, MN. Local traffic is allowed. Traffic control in place.

· ND Highway 17 Red River crossing, 11 miles east of Grafton.

The following highways have water on the roadway but remain open to traffic:

· I-29 southbound roadway, 14 miles north of Manvel, is reduced to a single lane. Traffic speeds are reduced

· ND Highway 32, six miles north of Lisbon has water near the road. Motorists should use caution.

· ND Highway 1, five miles southwest of Ludden on the North Dakota-South Dakota border. Traffic control is in place, speeds are reduced.

The following highways are reduced to one lane due to levee construction:

· ND Highway 11, 4 miles south of Forman has a temporary gravel surface. Traffic control is in place. Speeds reduced to 15 mph.

· ND Highway 18, 9 miles south of Lidgerwood has a temporary gravel surface. Traffic control is in place. Speeds reduced to 15 mph.

· ND Highway 13, near LaMoure. No oversize or overweight loads allowed from LaMoure to Edgeley.

· ND Highway 11 at Lidgerwood. No oversize or overweight loads allowed.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation encourages motorists to check road conditions before traveling due to rapidly changing conditions. Fluctuating water levels make it difficult to predict when and where water will go over a roadway or recede from the roadway. For updated road information, call 511 from any type of phone or go to the Travel Information Map on our website at www.dot.nd.gov.

City of Moorhead Sandbag Dike Removal Update

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:43:11 +0000

NEWS RELEASE

March 29, 2010

For further information, please contact:

Michael Redlinger, City Manager

(218) 299-5308

City of Moorhead Sandbag Dike Removal Update

Homeowners with sandbag dikes to receive a letter from the City authorizing removal

With river levels approaching 31 feet, the City Engineer has authorized the removal of

sandbag dikes from private property in the City of Moorhead. Homeowners may now begin

to remove their sandbag dikes, placing sandbags on the street, leaving the gutter near the

curb unobstructed for drainage. City crews will pick up the sandbags as soon as possible.

The Mayor and City Council will discuss providing sandbag dike removal assistance to

homeowners at the April 12 City Council meeting. If approved, homeowners will be

provided with a “Right of Entry” form which will permit the City’s contractor to enter private

property and remove sandbag dikes for those owners who are in need of assistance. City

authorized contractors would begin dike removal the week of April 19.

Clay goes from field to levee to field again

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:19:56 +0000

Turns out the land known for some of the most fertile crop soil in the world isn’t too bad for holding back floodwaters.

It won’t stay out of the ground long.

River diversion not the only issue on official’s mind

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:18:28 +0000

Jake Gust is well-versed in the benefits of river diversions. He oversees the one protecting West Fargo from the Sheyenne River.

On his farm between Fargo and Harwood, Gust also benefits from a water storage project. The Maple River Dam upstream near Enderlin, N.D., keeps the floodwaters that flow across roads and through fields around his property from rising even higher.

F-M flood fight mentioned often during Democratic-NPL convention in Fargo

admin — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:05:16 +0000

With clay dikes still laid out on 2nd Street, the community’s latest flood fight was mentioned often throughout North Dakota Democrats’ two-day state convention at the Fargo Civic Center this weekend.

Many, including the state’s congressional delegation and Fargo Deputy Mayor Tim Mahoney, praised the work of local law enforcement, the North Dakota National Guard, federal agencies and – most emphatically – the thousands of volunteers who worked to protect the community.

(Mahoney even included mention of his well-known 2009 flood attire when giving a nominating speech to Rep. Earl Pomeroy. Read the story on InForum.)

During the convention banquet Saturday night, Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar also addressed the most recent flood during a very poignant moment in her speech:

“I know you all have been through a lot in the last two years with the Red River floods, and we have, too,” Klobuchar said. “But using the same frontier spirit North Dakotans and Minnesotans have always shown, for two harrowing years the men and women of this community have joined hands, held back nature and saved lives.”

“A river may divide Fargo and Moorhead, but a deep friendship and common thread forever bind us,” she added. “We all know that we still have some work to do, North Dakota. But we will – together – build that diversion.”

But true to her nature, Klobuchar also exhibited quick-witted jokes that entertained those in attendance.

“You can always pick out someone from Fargo – or for that matter, someone from Moorhead – when they’re on the beach in Florida. They see a pile of sand and they automatically start looking for a bag to fill,” Klobuchar said to much laughter from the audience.

Water on Highway 46 near Kindred, N.D.

admin — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 10:38:21 +0000

Water is covering North Dakota Highway 46 one mile west of Kindred.