Disaster Declared In N.D. Flooding

Hundreds Evacuate As Thousands Of Volunteers Build Sandbag Dikes To Hold Rivers Back

(CBS/AP)  President Barack Obama declared flood-stricken North Dakota a federal disaster area on Wednesday as some living along the Missouri River evacuated their homes and others worked on sandbagging and shoring up its banks.

Demolition crews blasted a huge ice jam in the river in a bid Wednesday to open a channel, like pulling out a giant plug to drain a flood threatening the state capital of Bismarck.

"We are cautiously optimistic," Bismarck Mayor John Warford said after the string of explosives went off. He said officials would have a better assessment Wednesday night, but said water appeared to be moving.

Water backing up behind the dam of car-size ice blocks already had forced the evacuation of about 1,700 people from low-lying areas in Bismarck.

The flood threat intensified after the region was hit Tuesday by a blizzard.

Some 200 miles east of Bismarck, officials also called for more sandbagging volunteers in Fargo, and its cross-river neighbor, Moorhead, Minnesota, where the Red River was projected to crest Friday evening.

Complicating the battle against the river are falling snow, and freezing temperatures, reports CBS News weather anchor Dave Price. Up to 6 inches of new snow is now raising flood projections another foot to 41 feet - 23 feet over flood stage - a new record for a region that know flooding all too well.

"This one is unusual because of all the things the weather is throwing at us," says Fargo Mayor Dennis Walager. "So if we survive this one we're very lucky."

Luck, aided by a Herculean effort. By Wednesday night, Price reports the city hoped to have put in place nearly 2 million sandbags, with the help of more than 30,000 volunteers from the Northern Plains, along with prison inmates and 750 national guardsmen. Together they have built some 15 miles of dikes, some as high as 12 feet, hoping to keep the river in its place.

The ice jam threat, created by ice flowing down the Heart River, was made up of chunks of ice up to 3 feet thick and the size of small cars, said Assistant Water Commission Engineer Todd Sando.

A second ice jam about 10 miles upstream of Bismarck was also a concern, holding back a growing reservoir. The National Weather Service posted a flash flood warning for a three-county area, saying the integrity of that ice jam, was unpredictable.

"The fact that it could break at any time is bad news," Bismarck Mayor John Warford said at a morning news conference.

Obama's declaration means the federal government will pay 75 percent of state and local government costs for the flood fight.

Sand supplies briefly ran out in Fargo early Wednesday because icy roads made travel difficult for a Minnesota supplier.

More sandbagging was planned in part of Grand Forks, the city hardest hit by a massive Red River flood in 1997. An elaborate dike system was built after that disaster.

The blizzard had blocked hundreds of miles of highways in Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska. The southwestern North Dakota town of Marmarth reported 22.5 inches of snow and up to 2.5 feet of snow fell in South Dakota's rugged Black Hills.

[dennisn55121]

I have been in both places and voluntered in both flood efforts. The difference between the ethic of the people in new orleans and ND are huge.
1. ND will work to prevent flooding and clean up afterwards and not complain about it. There is a sense of community and the people REALLY REALLY care in ND.
2. There is NO LOOTING in ND. People are way to busy helping eachother to prevent a disaster. And lending a hand to those who have no home or those that came hours away to volunteer.
3. Race is not an issue. Sand bag crews up in ND have, white people, indians, black, asians. They all have a common purpose and that is to save a city. New Orleans was turned into a race issue by the residents who didnt help, that left there houses vacant for years after the flood and is costing tax payers millions a year, after the disaster.
4. New orleans residents complained about living in a FEMA trailer. There are people living in a gym on COTS right now in Fargo and no one is complaining and they are going out helping every day.

I'm sure this was not the case for all people in New Orleans, however its is the preception the media showed. Floods are very scary. I have been through 4 in different areas of the country. If you want to complain about the differences, get off your butt and help prevent one. instead of making it into something else that its not.

[Solarrays247]

Posted by Jding001 at 2:57 PM : Mar 25, 2009

We are keeping your family, and all the wonderful people in North Dakota in our thoughts tonight, and in the days to come!

[Solarrays247]

what? what is that you say? flooding is flooding....what makes the people there so different?
Posted by jwind1 at 1:51 PM :

LOL!!! You've never been to North Dakota!!!! The people up there are trustworthy hardworking and honest.....I'll look those words up if you have trouble with the definitions....
Posted by dragonwagon5 at 2:54 PM : Mar 25, 2009

you saying people of new orleans arent?
Posted by jwind1 at 3:57 PM : Mar 25, 2009

jwind1, your ignorance is showing...once again! Face it, a "Rowdy" you will never be!

dragonwagon5, I so agree with you! Wonderful people in the midwest! Trustworthy, honest, hardworking, and "big hearts."

They were fighting a drought a couple years ago...now this!

[Jding001]

My entire family lives in Dakota and these people won't loot and further the destruction of their town because these people are hard working americans who earn a living by busting their butts. Most of these people were raised by farmers and hard working men and women. They are out helping their neighboors and family. They arent a bunch of huligans living off welfare looking to steal and riot to get their hands on anything they can get. How many pictures did you see from N.O. of people helping like the citizens of dakota are?? Working in the rain and snow mind you! These people are what made America great, hard working individuals who will stick together in tough times. You wait and see if this gets real bad and come back and tell me how many "looters" you see on the news reports....God bless my family and the great citizens of North Dakota.

[shereen1979]

You people out there who criticize our president are clearly racist and wishes to see him fail...its very disgusting...he is trying to clean up the mess bush left behind...how will did bush deal with the flood in new orleans???????????

[parisdakar]

Go Harry!

[parisdakar]

You have to be out of your mind to live behind a levee.

[hungry1968-15]

Good luck people!!

[barbaraf4]

"Let's hope FEMA can help.....(snicker) " Posted by dragonwagon5
~~~~~~~~~~
FEMA, as an entity, couldn't find its way out of a closet if the door was open. Don't expect any help from them.

[Solarrays247]

I really feel for all the folks in North Dakota and Minnesota affected by this. I experienced flooding many years ago, and it is a humbling experience coming up against Mother Nature.

If I remember correctly, North Dakota went through some tough years recently because of a long term drought.

Good, hard working people! Sorry I can't come to help you....I must work.

We are keeping you in our thoughts, and hope for the best!