Flood pressure on Midwest recedes

Published on Saturday 28 March 2009 22:06

THE National Weather Service gave weary Fargo residents a dose of good news yesterday, saying the flood outlook for the Red River seems to be improving and may not be as dire as originally thought.

Despite the forecast revision, North Dakota officials still intensified their efforts to fend off the floodwaters threatening the Midwestern city, deploying hi-tech Predator drone aircraft, calling up more National Guard troops and asking residents to be on the lookout for any breaches in levees.

The weather service earlier said the Red River could crest as high as 43ft. But forecasters put out an alert yesterday that said the river is expected to remain below 41ft and slowly decrease. "The best news we can take from this is the river has crested," said Fargo mayor Dennis Walaker.

"But diligence is going to have to be required for at least eight more days and, hopefully, things will continue to drop. The only thing that would change all that optimism would be to have a significant storm."

The improved situation is a result of the icy weather, which froze the water that would have flowed into the river, halting its rise, said Hudson. By the time that water thaws, the biggest flooding threat should have passed.

Forecasters acknowledged the situation could take a turn for the worse, with a storm predicted to strike early this week with more snow and strong wind.

But no major levee breaches or other issues were reported during the night. The number of National Guard troops is rising to 1,850 from 1,700, while 300 bags that hold a ton of sand and can be dropped by helicopter into breaks in the levees are being delivered.

Predator drones began flying overhead yesterday morning, offering a clearer view of the situation. "They will be up there for 10 hours today providing video of the flood situation," said North Dakota governor John Hoeven.

President Barack Obama said yesterday that he was keeping a close watch on the floods and putting the US government's full weight behind efforts to prevent disaster.

"Even as we face an economic crisis which demands our constant focus, forces of nature can also intervene in ways that create other crises to which we must respond – and respond urgently," the president said in his weekly radio and internet address.

While the situation in Fargo was getting the most attention, officials across the river in Moorhead, Minnesota, were also dealing with the threat of heavy flooding. Thousands of people had evacuated the city of 30,000, although others have stayed behind. "Right now we're confident, but if the dikes break we'll have people standing on their roofs," said Clay County sheriff Bill Bergquist.

Federal officials were prepared to shelter and feed 30,000 people for a week, said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. More people than that may be evacuated, but she said officials expect most people would seek help through friends and family first. She said the coastguard had participated in 82 rescues by Friday.

In a flooded small community north of Fargo, fire destroyed a house surrounded by so much water that firefighters couldn't get within 200ft. More than 100 residents of Oakport Township had to be rescued by boat.