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North Dakota Scrambles to Fight Flood

Souris river to rise to 1,564 feet

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 24, 2011 10:24 AM CDT

(Newser) – With the Souris River expected to reach record heights, Minot, North Dakota, is scrambling to finish dikes protecting the one bridge still connecting the two halves of the city, the Jamestown Sun reports—and Mayor Curt Zimbelman doesn't think they're going to make it. "Work will continue until we can no longer hold back the water," he says.

Waters are already high, and the estimate for where they'll crest has shot from 1,555 feet at the start of the week to 1,564.5 feet in the latest estimate—a staggering increase that would cause the area's worst flood ever, passing a high set in 1881. Even residents who live outside the evacuation zone are now being advised to move prized belongings to the second floor.

A home is nearly submerged by flood waters from the Souris River Thursday, June 23, 2011 in Minot, ND.
A home is nearly submerged by flood waters from the Souris River Thursday, June 23, 2011 in Minot, ND.   (AP Photo/The Grand Forks Herald, Christian Randolph)
A neighborhood is submerged by flood water from the Souris River Thursday, June 23, 2011 in Minot, ND.
A neighborhood is submerged by flood water from the Souris River Thursday, June 23, 2011 in Minot, ND.   (AP Photo/The Grand Forks Herald, Christian Randolph)
Flood waters begin to pour through a breached levee and flood the Minot Country Club Thursday, June 23, 2011 in Minot, ND.
Flood waters begin to pour through a breached levee and flood the Minot Country Club Thursday, June 23, 2011 in Minot, ND.   (AP Photo/The Grand Forks Herald, Christian Randolph)
A home on the west side of Minot, ND is mirrored by the rising Souris River Thursday, June 23, 2011 in Minot, ND.
A home on the west side of Minot, ND is mirrored by the rising Souris River Thursday, June 23, 2011 in Minot, ND.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Debris in the Souris River will pose a challenge to rescue and evacuation efforts Thursday, June 23, 2011, in Minot, ND.
Debris in the Souris River will pose a challenge to rescue and evacuation efforts Thursday, June 23, 2011, in Minot, ND.   (AP Photo/The Forum, Carrie Snyder)
The Souris River has topped dikes surrounding houses and submerging cars in Minot, ND on Thursday, June 23, 2011.
The Souris River has topped dikes surrounding houses and submerging cars in Minot, ND on Thursday, June 23, 2011.   (AP Photo/The Forum, Carrie Snyder)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 2 comments
RockyPneumonia
Jun 24, 2011 10:34 AM CDT
All these natural disasters striking states which traditionally vote Republican....
 

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