WEST FARGO - Although some floodwaters are receding in Cass County, life likely won't be back to normal for several days - or even weeks - for some residents, especially those isolated by overland flooding north and northwest of Fargo.
Interstate 29 between Harwood and Exit 100 near Hillsboro will remain closed indefinitely, Highway Patrol Captain Eldon Mehrer said Tuesday.
The 31-mile portion of I-29 has been closed since Sunday due to overland flooding, mostly between Harwood and Argusville.
Mehrer said he couldn't speculate as to when I-29 might reopen.
The water was starting to recede, but it's leaving a lot of debris on the roadway, Mehrer said.
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Department of Transportation crews need to clear the debris and then assess the integrity of the roadway before it can open again to motorists, Mehrer said.
In the meantime, troopers and Cass deputies will keep a heightened presence in rural towns along the I-29 detour route through the county.
Between Friday and Tuesday morning, Cass deputies issued 30 citation tickets and eight warning tickets countywide, the sheriff's office said.
Of those tickets, 22 were for speeding, which has been a problem especially off Highway 18 through Hunter and Arthur.
One driver in that stretch was cited for going 69 mph in a 25-mph zone.
Authorities have also issued at least one ticket for a driver going around a barricade, which carries a fine starting at $20.
The 15 other citations over the weekend were for standard infractions, such as not wearing a seat belt or running a stop sign.
Sheriff Paul Laney urged residents again Tuesday to avoid risks during the flood.
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A deputy stopped two 18-year-old males Monday who were boarding a kayak and about to venture out into floodwaters, Laney said.
The boys were wearing shorts and didn't have life preservers, he said.
"Parents, talk to your kids: This isn't the X-Games. This is Mother Nature showing her fury," Laney said.
The Red River should continue declining gradually, but elsewhere, "it's still going to be a slow process to get those water levels down," National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Scarlett said.
The weather service doesn't predict a second crest for the Red River in Fargo, which peaked at 38.75 feet on Saturday evening.
Authorities will continue checking on residents isolated by flooding until the waters recede, and quick-response teams are stationed in the county to mobilize if needed, Laney said.
"We're past that intense crisis stage, and now we're in the flare-up stage, where a lot of fires pop up here and there," he said.
Looking to the future, Cass County officials remain concerned about the limited federal funding for flood-related costs.
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President Barack Obama signed a partial declaration last week that made on-the-ground assistance available, but it fell short in covering expenses for protection and preparation efforts.
County Commission Chairman Darrell Vanyo said he and county staff met for two hours Monday with Robin Finegan, the regional director for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in an effort to push for a full disaster declaration.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Kristen Daum at (701) 241-5541
