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Fargo Flood: Concordia College Evacuating, neighborhood evacuations started
Posted by Norski • 3/26/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: fargo, flood, minnesota, North Dakota, red river, red river of the north
I'm doing a sort of news-and-commentary blog post, updated as I hear and read: apatheticlemming.blogspot.com/2009/03/red-river-valley-of-north-flood-2009_...
I grew up in Fargo-Moorhead, so this is a little personal with me.
Now, it's time to scan the news again.
I probably won't be touching base here too often: But I will be checking in on Twitter from time to time. Over there, I'm Aluwir. ('Norski' was taken) twitter.com/Aluwir
User Comments
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A copy of my book is in the Concordia College Library. Hope it doesn't get washed away.-
From what I heard, the evacuation is precautionary. Concordia, NDSU, and MSU-M all have extensive libraries - some of which include underground sections. Plus, there's the public library system in both cities.
What's the title, BTW?
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Title is "Six Hours Past Thursday," Norski. It's a legal thriller. It's in some 400 college libraries around the U.S., including a bunch of law libraries. It's also in some 500 public libraries. It's everywhere, actually. Can be ordered through any book store, or Amazon for immediate delivery (they stock it).
I lost several when Katrina hit a lot of southern Louisiana and Mississippi small town libraries a few years back. Hope this doesn't happen again.-
Thanks for the update and information. And yes, it would be nice if disasters like this didn't happen.
Not to seem overly cynical: but I strongly suspect that bad weather will keep happening. -
If I purchase one, would you sign it for me with an inscription, Jack? -
That's not REALLY what you're worried about in the face of a natural disaster, is it, Jack? "When Katrina hit" lots of people DIED and such... -
MadameX,
Interesting point. -
The Associated Press had good news today: Fargo's libraries seem to be okay. ( apatheticlemming.blogspot.com/2009/03/9-red-river-valley-of-north-flood-200... )
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Update: I closed the March 26, 2009, post, and started fresh at midnight, CDT: apatheticlemming.blogspot.com/2009/03/red-river-valley-of-north-flood-2009_...
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This is a sad and intense situation I can only pray for a good outcome and that everyone, man and beast remain safe. I am sorry this is happening and I understand you being drawn to their plight. Take care and hopefully things will return to normal fast! Praying right now.
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Amen to that
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Looks like it's going to be a record breaker, 44 feet. Not to mention it's snowing up there, and the temps are below freezing. Not a good situation. I was up there on Monday helping out. Wish I could've stayed longer.-
Oops. I pushed the wrong button.
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If anyone else says 44 feet, I will kill them with a fluffy teddy bear, to make it all the more painful. Official projections are for 42, www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=fgf&gage=fgon8&view=1,1,1,1,1,1 and we can hold tight at that level, assuming they keep vigilant levee patrols and the electricity stays on to run pumps. At 44 feet, we might as well just shut it down now and leave. I've been through wildfires, which you at least can see and they either sweep by or get put out, and earthquakes, which are at least short, but this is the most stressful week I've had and the next week doesn't look any better. Every few hours there's been another piece of bad news. At least the sandbags are going from loose piles of sand to levees so fast that they don't get a chance to freeze until they're already shaped into the dike.-
Keep us posted on what's going on there.
Hope you're all safe and sound ♥ -
legbamel,
Oh, come on: this isn't a time for half-measures.
'I heard some guy tell a guy the crest was going to be four hundred feet!'
Nut-case rumors aside, there is reasoned speculation that the crest might, possibly be 43 feet. But the official predictions are 41 to 42 feet for the crest. I haven't nailed it down, but there's strong indication that the 43 feet number comes from 'margin of error' considerations in the mathematical models that forecasters are using. -
legbamel,
Seriously? I trust that you and yours are okay. I do check my blog posts (today's is apatheticlemming.blogspot.com/2009/03/red-river-valley-of-north-flood-2009_... ) for comments from time to time - and even if I don't, readers should appreciate some on-the-spot observations.
'All I know is what I read in the news.' And NOAA, and - - - .
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I have been watching the news on this flood. Very serious! Take Care! -
Not terribly good news:
Red River at Fargo 40.66 feet 1 1/2 hour ago.
On the other hand, I haven't read about a flood-related death, yet. I hope it stays that way. -
Actually, the 40.66 is good news, as it means that the rise is slowing drastically, which usually means that the crest is approaching. We've still got a day to go, but I understand they're shutting down sandbag-making operations at six tonight. As a whole, we've made 3 million in a week. Right now, the focus is shifting from levee creation to patrolling and maintaining.
I just about cried, driving past a nearby home for the mentally disabled, with ambulances lined up out front to evacuate the residents, just in case. One was from Fargo, and the other five were all from different towns. It was a perfect visual representation of how people have leapt into the breach to help make sure that people who can't help themselves are kept safe. I wish I had been able to pull over and take a picture.-
legbamel, you might find this NOAA page interesting: www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=fgf&gage=fgon8&view=1,1,1,1,1,1
I've referred to in from time to time. Among other things, it shows a chart with measured and projected river levels over time. -
legbamel,
Also, thanks for the first-hand account.
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Well that's good to hear, guys. I think that would have made a very good picture, Legbamel.
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1/3 of Moorhead is being evacuated, I read.
Concordia and MSU-M students are, some of them, being put up in Bemidji. apatheticlemming.blogspot.com/2009/03/red-river-valley-of-north-flood-2009_... -
I've enjoyed reading your coverage. I live in East Grand Forks, and posted my story here:
extraordinaryintelligence.com/185/news/wild-weather-red-river-racing-toward...
I'm most worried about Fargo/Moorhead. Hopefully those of us a little further north will have the protection of the walls, but down south its not looking good.-
BetaGirl,
Thanks for the good words. I glanced over your blog post. Fine set of photos.
Thanks for your concern for the FM area. You be careful, too. Looks like precautions are being taken.
>>>update>>>
I added a link to your post. Quite a set of photos.
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Sure, Theresa, arrangements can be made.
Of course, number of books destroyed is a microscopic side-light to the human suffering which goes on with these tragedies, Tiffany. -
@ legbamel
I'm not one to exaggerate, it's just what I heard on the news. So any teddy bear offensives can be directed toward the Minneapolis media.-
Those dirty rats! I don't think they'd take a package of teddy bears to be a threat, somehow. I never heard 44' here, thank heavens. People have shown amazing spirit in the face of repeated blows to their optimism. Once we made it to 43 and 44 feet of protection around town, I don't know how many would have simply thrown up their hands at another rise in the projected crest. The race against time has been exhausting and deeply moving.
The relief over the current slow-down (and actual dips in river level, although nothing sustained) is palpable, both in local media and city meetings about the flood. I've heard more jests and chuckles out of folks in the last 24 hours than I did in the previous three days combined. Volunteers are still showing up to shore up leaks at the drop of a hat, but they shut down the massive sandbag-making efforts at six last night. They figure the 300,000 they had on hand would be enough to see us through. For now, we sit tight with out floor drains plugged and our fingers crossed.
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Wow, thanks for the link! It really helps bring attention to the area. I'll be linking to your posts as well soon. I also am on the front page of coasttocoastam.com. I'm praying for the people in Fargo, as well as those in Manitoba who are already bracing for the waters coming their way.
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@ deftdigits...
You are correct that flood waters could get that high. The rise has slowed, but they're not out of the woods yet, and 43 to 44 feet is a possibility. Hopefully not, but the reality does exist. -
Legbamel--and all from the area--you and your families are in my thoughts and prayers. I grew up in neighboring Montana--so I have a real affection for those neighboring states that we visited so often when I was young.
Norski--good coverage.
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