High tide...(fargo floods)

[DanTheMan]

Isn't Millertime in Fargo?


Fargo floods
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090328/ap_on_re_us/midwest_flooding

FARGO, N.D. â€" Thousands of shivering, tired residents got out while they could and others prayed that miles of sandbagged levees would hold Friday as the surging Red River threatened to unleash the biggest flood North Dakota's largest city has ever seen.

The agonizing decision to stay or go came as the final hours ticked down before an expected crest Sunday, when the ice-laden river could climb as high as 43 feet, nearly 3 feet higher than the record set 112 years ago. The city got a one-day reprieve Friday night when the National Weather Service pushed its crest projection back from Saturday to Sunday afternoon, saying frigid temperatures had slowed the river's rise. While the weather service targeted the crest near 42 feet, it said feet 43 is still a possibility.

[Howie]

I do hope the weather folk are wrong.

[Mother]

good luck wade

[Rev. Millertime]

I'm here... and thankfully high and dry.

Spent the last few days building sandbag dikes.  Now it's just a waiting game to see that everything holds.

Luckily even if the river breaks thru every dike and levee my neighborhood will be high and dry... at least according to the maps.

What an amazing f'n town.   Keep throwing your jokes about fargo, I'm proud to have the neighbors I have.

Some pics for your viewing enjoyment:


A view of the permanent dike looking north to downtown Fargo.  Just to give you an idea, the top of the dike is at 42' and flood stage is 18'.  I would say that the top of the dike is usually 25' above the river.


Don't know if you can read the spray paint on this sandbag dike, but it says the top is at 44'.  The water on the other side is only about 2 feet from the top.  The river is usually on the other side of the trees in the background.


Earthen dike built to protect downtown.


Another temporary dike.


One of my favorite pics.  This was taken south of Fargo.

[Rev. Millertime]

A sandbag dike around a home.


ND National Guard building a dike.  We ended up working on this exact dike with these guys.  Some of them had been there for 11hrs when we got there and not a one complained!


Last night after the NWS announced a possible 43 foot crest people spent all night adding another foot to one of the permanent dike.


Volunteers filling sandbags inside the dome.


Stockpile of sandbags as of this morning.


Volunteers still at it this morning.


Volunteers adding to an already enormous sandbag dike.


One neighborhood that could not be saved... so far this is not a normal sight.

[Rev. Millertime]

A video that someone put together that shows some of the work up to sometime on the 25th.

Country music, so if you're not a fan, turn off your speakers!

2009 FARGO/MOORHEAD FLOOD

[ducducgooseme]

Great to hear you are safe Wade.  You should be proud     If the sandbags fail, I hope the govt comes through for you all better than the folks in the Bayou.

Stand tough.

[TiNi]

i hope you stay warm, dry and safe!

[Mother]

youre killin me skinner

[mitt]

My town Cedar Rapids went through this last June.  I can't imagine sandbagging and rescuing people in freezing temps.

Unfortunately, our flood surpassed all dikes build and worst case predictions, and 4000+ homes were lost. 



Best wishes and prayers sent to our northern neighbors.

mitt

[ZLTFUL]

Unfortunately, our flood surpassed all dikes build and worst case predictions, and 4000+ homes were lost. 

The gubmint blewed dem up. They were trying to get rid of the farmers. 


Anyway Wade, keep dry. DSM has gone through it a couple of times now, once in 1993 and again in 2008 and I definitely know what you guys are feeling. Keep us abreast of the crest (a little horrible flood humor there).

[swampduc]

Incredible work ya'll have been putting in up there. I lived in NOLA when Katrina came through; it was heartbreaking sitting in Birmingham, AL watching the lake pour through into the city. Will be thinking good thoughts for Fargo. Good  Luck.

[Rev. Millertime]

Here's a little panorama I made of the people at the dome filling sandbags:

[Schmitty]

I used to live on 6th st in Fargo a couple blocks from the dike...about 25 years ago!

Hang in there and keep up with the water 

[cyrus buelton]

Way to go Wade 


It is a nice thing to see a community come together to help their neighbors. Don't see much of that anymore.



(on a different note, when the water does fall back to normal levels, who cleans up all the sandbags?)