Rising water

[hanson]

How bad does it get there.

Those of you going to the Cat's Incredible, the bridge is still there downtown. "Normal" river level is 30 some feet below the bridge.

[DTro]

I see we are up about 2 ft since Sun. Very noticable when driving over the river.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

I also noticed that the river has gone up a lot since I was out fishing on Sunday.

[south_metro_fish]

They are getting 1.5 million sandbags ready in Fargo right now.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Do they usually take civilians to help out when the flooding occurs?

I told my workplace that I may be gone for a while helping out.

[south_metro_fish]

I would assume that you would be able too. Areas with flooding from what I have always seen are always looking for help. It is a lot of work to make sandbags and walls. I would try finding what organizations are working up there and give them a call.

[south_metro_fish]

They are talking about higher then 97 with the possibility of a over a century flood in the Red River basin. Does not sound good at all this year.

[goblueM]

I think they are looking for any volunteers they can get their hands on. I'm on call right now, might get to deploy up there for up to 2 weeks. Sounds like it could be pretty bad

[south_metro_fish]

I heard on the news they were recruiting people that needed to pay off fines.

[hanson]

I had just read on the ValleyNewsLive site that they are predicting the crest to be between March 28 - April 4 and somewhere between 37'-40' in Fargo-Moorhead. The Red crested around 39-1/2' during the Flood of '97.

Not looking good although they should be better prepared this time around.

My experience with the '97 Flood was in college. I went to NDSU and had an internship with the City of Moorhead in their Engineering Dept. When the waters started coming up, I had to work with the survey crews checking water levels from one end of the city to the other. Also helped the City plastic & sandbag stormwater sewer manholes as the rising water would back up into the storm system and could blow the manhole covers in the air if they weren't covered. I can't tell you guys how many backyards I ended up in measuring water levels. It just kept coming up and up.

If I recall, there wasn't a bridge between Fargo and the Canadian border that you could cross over during a flood. The amount of water in the valley was simply unbelievable!

[mainbutter]

I'm glad I moved away from flood zones.

I had enough of that [PoorWordUsage] in southeastern texas and louisiana growing up.

[Ed Carlson]

We get a great volunteer turn out as needed in past high water events, and community's in the valley always need help and greatly appreciate it.

Unfortunately a lot of the most valuable and experienced Flood Fighters we have are now in the sand in Afghanistan and Iraq...our gallant guys and galls in the armed forces. The National Guard has been a huge help to everyone in the past floods but now the Guard is short here at home...so extra help is needed.

I have most certainly seen the best in many good people in past floods, preaty amazing really. Seen hero's on sand bag lines up and down the valley, day and night, cold and wet...helping just because they can. I'm a firm believer we have some of the best neighbors in the world right here in out region. I have also seen people come from many states away to help, again everyday hero's at work.

The suport agencies are amazing too, Red Cross, local church groups, helping hands from all over just appear with smiles...it's a beautiful thing.

Yes sir, from what I have witnessed in the past, times of stress to a community really does bring out the best in people.

The rate of rise is going Vertical so help will be needed not to far down the line.

It is a little ahead of schedule so that may be a good thing...as long as it cools now and we do not get heavy rains.

[marine_man]

Here's a link to the ND Forum with information on how to volunteer if you're interested:

Red River Flooding

marine_man

[MinnesnowtaWild]

The dam at rapidan on the blue earth releases water periodically. You can check the USGS site to check for that next time it happens.

I have never been at Rapidan in the Spring or Summer so I have never seen a high release so I was wondering typically how high the Minnesota River in Mankato would rise when this happens. Just curious because I have never fished a river in high water levels (got into it late last summer) and I don't want to be too close to the shore if the water level is going to rise quickly.

[Scott K]

I have been fishing in the St. Peter area when they have opened the dam, the water raised maybe 2 feet and was flowing much faster, with a lot of debris floating down with it, logs, leaves, weeds, ect.. It will raise a couple feet in 3-4 hours from what I have seen. Its not like there is a big tidal wave that comes down.

[rushing]

You probably wont even notice a release.