FLOOD UPDATE: Fargo starts preparing for recovery and cleanup, Cass continues fighting floodwaters

Talk about it

UPDATED 12:11 p.m.

FARGO - The flood fight effort is winding down in Fargo, with officials looking at recovery and cleanup as the threat of the Red River’s second crest continues to diminish.

Fargo is continuing its neighborhood meetings to talk about post-flood cleanup tonight and Thursday.

Removing the dozens of miles of clay and sandbag dikes in the metro area could start early next week. Officials are also setting priorities in taking down earthen dikes throughout the city.

A storm tracking for the Red River Valley now appears to be headed further south, and likely will drop about a quarter inch of rain in the river basin, said Mark Ewens, a data manager with the Grand Forks, N.D., office of the National Weather Service.

“It will have minimal impact,” Ewens said during a flood coordination meeting today in Fargo. “We are looking much better than we thought.”

Officials from both Fargo and Moorhead confirmed at a press conference that commissioners, councilmen and staff members met Tuesday to discuss long-term flood measures for the region. They said they expected those talks to include Fargo’s Southside Flood Control Project and to be ongoing.

Ewens said the NWS expects the river to crest at 35.5 feet on Saturday. The Red was at 33.77 feet in Fargo at 10:15 a.m. and climbing.

Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker said later that he wouldn’t be surprised if the river crested at 35 or 35.5 feet.

Fargo officials said they plan to start sandbag removal and cleanup following the second crest.

The agency in charge of the cleanup will be the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The city’s first priority will be removing earthen dikes, starting with those on arterial streets. Crews will then move to neighborhood streets before continuing to non-street dikes, like those on Park District land. That will be a 24-hour operation until the dikes are gone.

The city also is evaluating whether some temporary dikes will become permanent.

It’s should take two to three weeks to remove clay and Hesco sand barriers in the city, officials said.

“Be patient,” urged City Commissioner Tim Mahoney. “It may have taken nine days to put up, but it may take 36 days or more to take down.”

Priorities for removing sandbags have not been set because residents must sign legal waivers before the work begins.

The Army Corps of Engineers will contract for sandbag removal.

Many of the workers hired for the project could be students in the Fargo School District or local colleges, officials said.

“I think this is really going to be a nice opportunity for our students,” Fargo Public Schools Superintendent Rick Buresh said.

The Fargo Park District also is looking to reopen some golf courses by next week, Executive Director Roger Gress said.

The city’s two 18-hole courses, Rose Creek and Edgewood, could also be open by mid-June, despite flood damage, Gress said.

In rural Cass County, residents continue to face significant overland flooding, especially north of West Fargo between Cass County Road 17 and the Sheyenne River.

The county also is monitoring overland flooding near Kindred, and expects problems in the southern stretches of Cass.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency opens its office at the Cass County Annex today for Fargo and county property owners with damage. Those reporting damage should first register with FEMA by calling (800) 621-3362 or by going online at www.disasterassistance.gov.

Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney described roads as “horrible,” adding that roads are pitted and gutted. Some roads have 20-foot or greater sections wiped out by overland flooding, he said.

Residents living north of West Fargo have been isolated for weeks, with roads impassible due to high water and residents forced to use boats to get to and from work and school. Residents in southern Cass will again see high water, he said.

“The north end (of the Sheyenne River) is full and the south end is starting to get filled up,” Laney said.

As the flood fight wanes in Fargo, the city is sending sandbags to others affected by water. Tens of thousands of sandbags have been sent to Valley City, Lisbon, Kindred, Jamestown and rural Cass County residents.

Enterprise Director Bruce Grubb said the city has 125,000 sandbags ready at the Fargodome, and another 50,000 in rolloff boxes that could be dispatched.

“If you need sandbags, let us know,” Fargo City Administrator Pat Zavoral said.

Police Chief Keith Ternes said the city also is willing to send officers where they’re needed as other city’s find themselves fighting high water.

Fargo later announced that today’s flood briefing will be the last planned regularly televised meeting.

For updates on this story and flooding throughout the region, check back with www.inforum.com

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