Update [2009-3-26 21:29:6 by guyermo]:
BREAKING NEWS: Residents in Moorhead South of Interstate 94 and West of 8th Street are being ordered to evacuate. Further updates below.
Breaking news out of Fargo, North Dakota:
The crest for this weekend was 41 feet, a height never before measured, and nearly a foot higher than the record of 40.1 feet set in 1897. Yes. 1897.
The National Weather Service has just raised their crest prediction to 42-43 feet.
43 feet is the current crest of the sandbag levies.
More below.
From the Fargo Forum:
Fargo and Moorhead had been racing to add another foot to their dikes, trying to build them up to 43 feet to prepare for a crest of 41 feet by Saturday, after the weather service bumped up the crest from 40 feet on Tuesday.
The crest, once it reaches Fargo, could continue for three to seven days, according to the weather service.
If you are in the Fargo Area, and I know a few kossacks are, PLEASE go out and volunteer. Work until you cannot stand any more.
I am currently trying to find out more, but unless the worst happens, information is slow to come by.
Here are the details of the evacuation plan. Although those who are in need of it most should already be aware of it.
I'm holding out hope that the torrents of volunteers can hold back the waters, but this appears to be a race the Red is determined to win.
Another factor severely hampering efforts is the sub-freezing temperatures. Frozen sandbags are pretty much useless unless they're already in place.
Update [2009-3-26 20:5:7 by guyermo]:
Further downstream in Grand Forks, the river continues to rise, with the bridge in Thompson, just south of Grand Forks, closing today due to high water. To monitor the situation there, they have a floodcam, and a photo gallery of the flood marker. For a wider range of news, check out the Fargo Forum or the Grand Forks Herald.
Some further news sources:
WDAY out of Fargo
WDAZ out of Grand Forks
Update [2009-3-26 20:5:7 by guyermo]:
From the comments:
The Fargo floodcam.
Coverage from Minnesota Public Radio
Update [2009-3-26 20:17:53 by guyermo]:
I've completely neglected Moorhead in this, when they're in the same situation, although I think slightly higher elevation. They have called for people in the southwestern sector of the city to prepare for evacuation at short notice, but evacuations ARE NOT MANDATORY at this time. The affected area can be seen here.
Update [2009-3-26 21:29:6 by guyermo]:
The evacuation area in the previous update has now been made MANDATORY. No word yet on whether levies have failed or if this is to get people out while they still can. Updates to follow as they come.
For now, the levies appear to be HOLDING. Some more information:
Moorhead officials are directing that all residents who live between Interstate 94 and 50th Avenue South west of Eight Street to evacuate the area immediately.
Residents are being told to seek shelter with family or friends outside of the flood zone to conserve emergency resources.
A Red Cross public shelter is available at Moorhead High School, 2300 4th Ave. S.
Bring your identification and a seven- to 10-day supply of medications.
Update [2009-3-26 22:2:59 by guyermo]:
Fargo preparing to lock down, and further evacuations ahead:
Moorhead officials are directing that all residents who live between Interstate 94 and 50th Avenue South west of Eight Street to evacuate the area immediately. And Fargo officials are asking for voluntary evacuations for those who live between contingency and first-line dikes in the next 24 hours, saying it will become mandatory after that. Fargo city commissioners during a special meeting tonight passed a motion to shut down travel on all major roads in Fargo by midnight tonight.
Also, at 7:15 PM CDT, the water levels officially passed the massive 1997 flood and should surpass the 1897 record around midnight, CDT.
Parts of Interstate 29, including sections between Fargo and Grand Forks, restricted to one lane due to water on the highway. Potential closure by the weekend.
The evacuations between levies in Fargo are being issued due to longitudinal cracks in the levy. No failures yet, and some seepage is normal, but situation is rapidly changing.