The river is currently showing 27.52 feet and right about in the middle of Moderate flooding stage. Sometime this evening we will enter into Major flood stage at 30 feet. In Fargo, Dennis Walaker reports that delivery went very well and we are on track to protect Fargo to 40 feet by the crest that is expected on Saturday.
Last night, I heard the sound of dump trucks carrying dirt for levees and it faintly reminded me of last year’s flood fight. The sound of organized chaos filled the air and kept me awake. Fortunately, it sounds like it will be a little different in the Oak Grove neighborhood this year. A dike is being built where sandbags were thrown last year. Thousands of sand bags will not need to be thrown this year. It sounds like a contingency dike is not going up (being on the wrong side of a contingency dike is a very interesting and slightly scary experience). The river, although rapidly rising, is expected to crest at 38 feet, which is below last year’s crest by over 2 feet. Concordia has no classes to help out with the flood fight.
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic, but I don’t think I am alone when I say that it is a very cautious optimism. We have over 30 thousand sand bags being delivered today on my block and just a few days to get them on the ground. Some neighborhoods are getting 150 thousand. Most of our colleges are on Spring Break. Students have historically gotten us through these times and many of them are out of town. The crest is in just a few days.
There are some really good reasons to be concerned in regards to flooding, but also really good reasons to be optimistic. We just need to get the job done! Stay safe Fargo Moorhead!
