North Dakota flood fight far from over

Minot, North Dakota (CNN) -- Minot and other North Dakota cities dealing with record flooding will continue to be threatened by the Souris River for days to come, even though the water is no longer rising along parts of the river, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commander said Monday.

Although the river crested in Minot early Sunday morning, it has only dropped a fraction of an inch since -- leaving crews with the tense, around-the-clock job of constantly inspecting and shoring up emergency levees built to protect critical structures, said Lt. Col. Kendall Bergmann, deputy district engineer for the Corps' St. Paul District.

"We're 99% complete, but it's an ongoing fight," Bergmann said Monday.

The river had crested in Minot and appeared to be cresting in the downstream community of Velva, Bergmann said. The remaining communities along the U.S. portion of the river -- which begins in Canada and loops back into that country downstream of Minot -- do not appear threatened, he said.

Overnight, crews had to deal with floodwaters seeping through storm sewer drains and levees, but none of those issues posed major threats, he said.

Workers had to build another ring levee near the Broadway Bridge to protect that critical north-south route through Minot from being cut off, Bergmann said. National Guard helicopters also had to drop one-ton sandbags around a school to keep it from flooding.

The Souris River crested Sunday at Minot at nearly 13 feet over flood stage -- below earlier predictions, but still almost 4 feet above an 1881 record, according to the National Weather Service. The river had fallen about 6 inches as of Monday morning, according to the weather service, and is predicted to remain above the 1881 record into next week.

The state was scheduled to open three recovery centers in North Dakota on Monday -- two in Minot and one in Bismarck -- for residents in the throes of the record-setting floods.

Residents can visit the locations to find out about assistance programs and have their questions answered, Gov. Jack Dalrymple told reporters. But, he said, it is not necessary for residents to visit the centers to register for disaster assistance, which can be done by telephone or online.

Dalrymple said a tour of the area Sunday was "sobering, to say the least."

A boil-water order, issued as a precaution Saturday, remained in effect. Minot officials told residents that tap water should be boiled for at least a minute before consuming in order to kill any dangerous organisms.

Republican Rep. Rick Berg said he had been in touch with officials in Washington -- which has authorized FEMA to grant assistance -- and expressed optimism that the government will work well with residents to overcome the challenges.

"You're seeing people at the highest levels working together, putting politics behind them," said North Dakota's lone congressman.

Many residents of Minot who evacuated ahead of the rising water returned to the area Sunday against the recommendations of the city officials, hoping to catch a glimpse of their homes, said CNN's Jim Spellman.

Spellman said when he toured the hardest-hit area by boat, several residents gave him their addresses and asked him to check on their homes. Everyone was hoping his or her home might be the one that was spared, he said, but he had to bring back bad news.

"It's a somber feeling, sitting here," said resident Steve Knab. He recalled "listening to the sirens go off, and they evacuated us, and coming back the next day and seeing this ... it's disheartening."

But, he said, "We'll get there. We're healthy."

Evacuee Robin Taylor said residents have been helping one another. When her family had to evacuate in a hurry, neighbors on both sides pitched in, she said.

Jim Sarroll has lived in Minot his entire life. He has sandbagged his home, located just outside the evacuation zone, with the help of neighbors, and said Sunday it was dry so far.

He was, however, very concerned about the water. "I flushed my toilet this morning, and the water was red," he said.

Still, he said he was able to see the positives, when neighbors, relatives and friends bond to get through a disaster the best they can.

CNN's Ed Payne, Alexandra Steele, Mike Pearson, Holly Yan, Phil Gast and Sara Weisfeldt contributed to this report.

CNN

River begins to crest in Minot, North Dakota

3,000 to 4,000 homes have been affected by floodwater in MinotNWS: After fluctuating, water levels are expected to slowly fall there late SundayThe town of Sawyer, North Dakota, is evacuatedThe Souris River has already topped its record crest from 1881

Minot, North Dakota (CNN) -- The bloated Souris River was in the process of cresting Sunday in Minot, North Dakota, where record water levels have flooded thousands of homes.

"We're going to see minor fluctuations throughout the day today," but the water levels in Minot are expected to stay relatively close, said meteorologist Patrick Ayd of the National Weather Service in Bismarck, North Dakota.

He said the forecast shows a "very slow fall" starting Sunday evening.

The Souris River has already topped its record high of 1,558 feet above sea level, set in 1881.

A spontaneous burst of applause broke out at a Saturday press conference in Minot when the city's mayor said even though the Souris River should crest overnight -- about 12 feet higher than flood stage, it will be several inches short of what had been feared.

"This is great news," said Mayor Curt Zimbelman.

The Souris River flows through the center of Minot, a city of about 36,000. About a third of the city's population is under evacuation orders, while 3,000 to 4,000 homes have been affected by floodwater, the Minot Fire Department has said.

One resident, Stuart Dull, told CNN about how he, his wife and two children feverishly packed up their belongings ahead of the approaching waters.

"Words kind of escape me," Dull said after sneaking back toward his home and seeing it under water. "It's a sense of despair ... and it's maybe a check on some of the things that you hold dear."

Stuart Collum said he spotted the silver chimney and black roof of his house, where he has lived since 1968, on Saturday -- with the rest of the dwelling under water.

"I hate to say it, but I had tears in my eyes this morning. It's a sickening feeling because I knew when I come back it won't hardly be worth fixing. It's almost 100 years old," he said.

These personal struggles come as local, state and federal authorities rush to minimize the damage to property and maximize security and safety of residents.

Minot officials announced a "boil-water order" Saturday afternoon, telling residents to boil tap water for at least a minute before consuming in order to kill any dangerous organisms.

The focal point in Minot continues to be the Broadway Bridge, a critical north-south route through town. Officials have been working round-the-clock to prevent the river from inundating nearby routes, all part of larger efforts aimed at preventing Minot by effectively being split in half by the flooding.

"It's really important that (Broadway) bridge stays open," said Cecily Fong, spokeswoman for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services.

Republican Rep. Rick Berg said he had been in touch with officials in Washington -- which has authorized FEMA to grant assistance -- and expressed optimism that the government will work well with residents to overcome the challenges.

"You're seeing people at the highest levels working together, putting politics behind them," said North Dakota's lone congressman.

Berg, though, cautioned that the "marathon" was far from over. For instance, water levels near the Broadway Bridge were still expected to remain around 1,561 feet through Tuesday -- well above the record of 1,558 feet -- with a slow drop over the coming week.

And the worst is yet to come for other North Dakota cities and towns.

In Sawyer, "we'll be approaching peak levels over next 24 hours," Ayd said early Sunday morning. Water levels in Velva are expected to peak Monday or Tuesday.

The situation prompted the evacuation Saturday of the Sawyer's 350 residents as water from the Souris River began to slosh up a main street through town, according to the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

Crews were engaged in a "touch and go" struggle to build a temporary levee to stop the flow of water through the now-vacant town, said Shannon Bauer, a public information officer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"We have not given up," Bauer said.

Ken and Janelle Herslip's house -- less than a mile from the Souris -- was one of those flooded on Sunday.

Even though a crew of more than three dozen friends and family helped them evacuate on Monday -- scouring the house for everything that wasn't attached to the walls -- Ken Herslip said his wife is still devastated.

"We've had many homes over our life, and she finally got the house of her dreams," he said. "She is absolutely devastated, bawling all the time."

Herslip, who built the house, isn't so busted up. No one was hurt, and they can build again, he said.

Still, he said, "it will never be the same."

Dull voiced similar sentiments after the floodwaters forced him and his family out of their home -- leaving them safe, even as they're left largely helpless without flood insurance as the waters roll in. An overwhelming positive from this whole ordeal, he said, is how city residents have rallied to support one another.

"The community that we live in, they're absolutely great," said Dull. "All around, there are people helping people, strangers helping you move, everyone is so helpful.

"I just can't say enough about living in this town ... It's comforting to know that people care for you, even strangers."

CNN's Mike Pearson, Jim Spellman, Holly Yan, Phil Gast and Sara Weisfeldt contributed to this report.

CNN

N. Dakota town ordered to evacuate as river rises

NEW: "We have not given up," Corps of Engineers official says of evacuated cityNEW: "It's a sickening feeling," Minot resident saysImmediate evacuation ordered for Sawyer, North DakotaThe Souris River has already topped the record crest from 1881

Minot, North Dakota (CNN) -- Residents of the small North Dakota town of Sawyer were ordered to immediately evacuate Saturday as the Souris River began to slosh up a main street through town, according to a U.S. Corps of Engineers official.

The city of about 350 people southwest of Minot, North Dakota -- which has major flooding issues of its own -- has been the subject of a frenetic levee-building effort by the corps.

Water began flowing up First Street on the northwest side of town early Saturday morning, said Shannon Bauer, a public information officer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The river stood at five feet above flood stage Saturday morning. It is forecast to rise nearly 2 1/2 more feet at Sawyer before cresting on Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Crews are engaged in a "touch and go" struggle to build a temporary levee to stop the flow of water through the now-vacant town, according to Bauer.

"We have not given up," Bauer said.

The evacuation came as officials in Minot continued to deal with record flooding from the Souris that threatens to split the city in half. The swollen river is expected to crest this weekend after already topping its record water level on Friday, giving no respite to the thousands of people in North Dakota whose homes have been inundated by floodwater.

Minot resident Stuart Collum ventured to the edge of the floodwaters Saturday. He could see the silver chimney and black roof of the house where he has lived since 1968. The rest was under water.

"I hate to say it but I had tears in my eyes this morning. It's a sickening feeling because I knew when I come back it won't hardly be worth fixing. It's almost 100 years old," he said.

On Friday, city officials said they were feverishly working to prevent the river from inundating routes leading to the Broadway Bridge, a critical north-south route through town.

"It's really important that bridge stays open," said Cecily Fong, spokeswoman for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services.

Workers reinforced levees and built huge dikes to stem the flow of the river, Hocking said Friday night. Air boats were brought in earlier.

City officials had nevertheless ordered police, fire and medical units to position themselves on hills on each side of town as a precaution.

More than 3,000 homes in Minot were flooded Friday when river water gushed through the city. Some of the homes were covered to their roofs, Minot Fire Department Battalion Chief John Hocking said.

About 15% to 20% of the city was under water as of Friday, officials said.

"This is by far the toughest we've seen," Hocking said.

Ken and Janelle Herslip own one of those homes. Located less than a mile from the Souris, it's already flooded and more water is expected, Ken Herslip said Saturday.

Even though a crew of more than three dozen friends and family helped them evacuate on Monday -- scouring the house of everything that wasn't attached to the walls, Herslip said his wife is still devastated.

"We've had many homes over our life and she finally got the house of her dreams," he said. "She is absolutely devastated, bawling all the time."

Herslip, who built the house, isn't so busted up. No one was hurt, and they can build again, he said.

Still, he said, "it will never be the same."

The Souris River, which locals call "The Mouse" after the French translation of its name, flows through the center of Minot, a city of about 36,000. About a third of the city's population is under evacuation orders.

"This has been a very trying time for our community," Mayor Curt Zimbelman said Friday. "Emotionally draining for all of us."

The flooding has already eclipsed the record set in 1881, according to National Weather Service figures. The river was 12.56 feet above flood stage Saturday morning. The previous record was nine feet above flood stage, according to the weather service. It was expected to rise two more feet by Sunday morning, according to the weather service.

"Water is flowing toward Minot from Canada faster than ever due to record water levels upstream," the weather agency said Friday night. "The current forecast is for the crest to reach between 1,564 and 1,565 feet above sea level sometime during the overnight hours of June 25-26, and continuing through June 30. This crest would be more than 6 feet above record flood stage, and 9 feet above major flood stage."

The rush of water prompted the overflowing of a lake near the city, officials said, exacerbating the region's flood concerns.

About 800 National Guard troops were in the city late Friday to assist, Fong said.

Hocking said he took an aerial tour of areas around Minot and said saw widespread flooding.

"All along you could see are rooftops and flooded areas," he said.

CNN's Phil Gast, Marlena Baldacci, Jim Spellman, Alta Spells and Sara Weisfeldt contributed to this report.

CNN

Mounting river to crest as thousands of homes flooded in N. Dakota

"Water is flowing toward Minot from Canada faster than ever," a weather agency says15-20% of the North Dakota city is underwater, according to the National Weather ServiceThe Souris River is slated to crest late Saturday or early SundayThe river topped its record of 1,558 feet set in 1881

Minot, North Dakota (CNN) -- The swollen Souris River is expected to crest this weekend after already topping its record water level on Friday, giving no respite to the thousands of people in North Dakota whose homes have been inundated by floodwater.

About 15-20% of Minot, North Dakota, was underwater late Friday, and floodwaters are expected to increase in the coming days, the National Weather Service said.

The Souris River, which locals call "The Mouse" after the French translation of its name, flows through the center of city. The river looks like a "U" and swoops in and out of North Dakota from Canada.

"Water is flowing toward Minot from Canada faster than ever due to record water levels upstream," the weather agency said Friday night. "The current forecast is for the crest to reach between 1,564 and 1,565 feet above sea level sometime during the overnight hours of June 25-26, and continuing through June 30. This crest would be more than 6 feet above record flood stage, and 9 feet above major flood stage."

The previous record of 1,558 feet above sea level was set in 1881, according to the NWS. The level was 1,560.13 on Friday evening.

Floodwater gushed through Minot on Friday. Between 3,000 and 4,000 homes have been affected by the water, and in some, the water was "up to the roofs," Minot Fire Department Battalion Chief John Hocking said.

"This is by far the toughest we've seen," Hocking said.

Crews were trying to keep the vital north-south U.S. Highway 83 open as the waters stopped railroad service and sent residents and zoo animals to higher ground. Officials worried that more levees would be breached.

A special focus was the so-called Broadway Bridge on U.S. 83, which spans the river. If it closes, Minot effectively would be split, making it tougher for emergency vehicles and repair crews to move about.

"It's really important that bridge stays open," said Cecily Fong, spokeswoman for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services.

Workers reinforced levees and built huge dikes to stem the flow of the river, Hocking said Friday night. Air boats were brought in earlier.

"This has been a very trying time for our community," Mayor Curt Zimbelman said. "Emotionally draining for all of us."

The rush of water prompted the overflowing of a lake near the city, officials said, exacerbating the region's flood concerns.

About 12,000 residents have evacuated their homes, according to Minot Fire Department Capt. Dean Lenertz.

Minot, in the north-central part of the state, is the fourth-largest city in North Dakota. The evacuation order covers a third of its population, state Emergency Services spokeswoman Cecily Fong said.

Zimbelman has said that no new evacuations have been ordered, even though "the flows coming into Lake Darling are reaching the lake quicker and at a greater volume than predicted."

"Due to this, Lake Darling has increased its outflow," the mayor said -- increasing flooding in the floodplain, though not to a point that it yet changes the "inundation zone."

About 800 National Guard troops were in the city late Friday to assist, Fong said.

Hocking said he took an aerial tour of areas around Minot and said saw widespread flooding.

"All along you could see are rooftops and flooded areas," he said.

Water has topped the city's dikes since Wednesday, which are leaking in some places.

CNN's Phil Gast, Marlena Baldacci, Jim Spellman and Alta Spells contributed to this report.

CNN

N. Dakota river to surpass record levels

Minot, North Dakota (CNN) -- Summer flooding in Minot, North Dakota, hit record levels on Friday as the Souris River tied the all-time high of 1,558 feet set in 1881, according to the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Center.

The river has surged more than six feet higher than the old record after waters rushed into the area faster and in greater amounts than expected, officials said.

The rush of water prompted overflowing of a lake near the city, officials said, exacerbating the region's flood concerns.

Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman has said that no new evacuations have been ordered, even though "the flows coming into Lake Darling are reaching the lake quicker and at a greater volume than predicted."

"Due to this, Lake Darling has increased its outflow," the mayor added -- increasing flooding in the flood-plain, though not to a point that it yet changes the "inundation zone."

About 12,000 residents have evacuated their homes, according to Minot Fire Department Capt. Dean Lenertz. The mayor of Minot and the state's governor congratulated citizens on an organized and efficient evacuation, with Gov. Jack Dalrymple saying it had "gone extremely well."

Water has been overtopping the city's dikes since Wednesday, which are leaking in some places.

Dalrymple said that "all agencies are engaged" statewide in addressing the issue. He noted, for example, that workers with North Dakota's transportation department are moving 100,000 sandbags from Bismarck to the Minot area, and there are about 500 National Guard personnel on site.

The Souris River, which locals call "The Mouse" after the French translation of its name, flows through the center of town, and there are several homes and businesses along its low-lying banks.

Fearing the main levees would not hold back the water, emergency workers have been constructing local levees around a school and the Broadway Street Bridge, a main thoroughfare.

At least one of those had to be pushed back Thursday, said Zimbelman, eliminating Third street as a north-south access point through the city.

At the nearby Minot Air Force Base, about 1,000 members of the military and their families have been displaced by the rising waters in the city, according to Capt. Genieve David, a base spokeswoman. An emergency shelter has been set up on the base, with 50 people staying their overnight, the mayor said. An additional 221 people stayed at shelters run by the Red Cross.

Minot, in the north central part of the state, is the fourth-largest city in North Dakota. The evacuation order covers a third of its population, Fong said.

The Souris River looks like a "U." It swoops in and out of North Dakota from Canada.

CNN's Jim Spellman, Ed Payne, Marlena Baldacci and Alta Spells contributed to this report.

CNN

North Dakota river to surpass record levels

Minot, North Dakota (CNN) -- The summer flooding in Minot, North Dakota, will enter record territory Friday morning as the Souris River surges toward a peak, days ahead of original forecasts by the National Weather Service.

The river, which stood 1,556 feet above sea level early Friday, is forecast to top the 1881 record of 1,558 feet by mid-morning and peak at 1564.5 feet late Saturday or early Sunday. That would put the Souris more than six feet higher than the old record.

The waters were rushing into the area faster and in greater amounts than expected, overflowing a lake near the city, officials said, exacerbating the region's flood concerns.

But Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman said Thursday that no new evacuations had been ordered, even though "the flows coming into Lake Darling are reaching the lake quicker and at a greater volume than predicted."

"Due to this, Lake Darling has increased its outflow," the mayor added -- increasing flooding in the flood-plain, though not to a point that it yet changes the "inundation zone."

About 12,000 residents have evacuated their homes, according to Minot Fire Department Capt. Dean Lenertz. The mayor of Minot and the state's governor congratulated citizens on an organized and efficient evacuation, with Gov. Jack Dalrymple saying it had "gone extremely well."

Water has been overtopping the city's dikes since Wednesday, which are leaking in some places.

Dalrymple said that "all agencies are engaged" statewide in addressing the issue. He noted, for example, that workers with North Dakota's transportation department are moving 100,000 sandbags from Bismarck to the Minot area, and there are about 500 National Guard personnel on site.

The Souris River, which locals call "The Mouse" after the French translation of its name, flows through the center of town, and there are several homes and businesses along its low-lying banks.

Fearing the main levees would not hold back the water, emergency workers have been constructing local levees around a school and the Broadway Street Bridge, a main thoroughfare.

At least one of those had to be pushed back Thursday, said Zimbelman, eliminating Third street as a north-south access point through the city.

At the nearby Minot Air Force Base, about 1,000 members of the military and their families have been displaced by the rising waters in the city, according to Capt. Genieve David, a base spokeswoman. An emergency shelter has been set up on the base, with 50 people staying there overnight, the mayor said. An additional 221 people stayed at shelters run by the Red Cross.

Minot, in the north-central part of the state, is the fourth-largest city in North Dakota. The evacuation order covers a third of its population, Fong said.

The Souris River looks like a "U." It swoops in and out of North Dakota from Canada.

CNN's Jim Spellman, Ed Payne, Marlena Baldacci and Alta Spells contributed to this report.

CNN

North Dakota dam at risk of failure

Hunt told The Associated Press that Federal Emergency Management Agency officials were bringing equipment to monitor the dam. Fire Chief Karter Lesmann said the city had about 3,000 sandbags on hand for use in the town.

An evacuation could become mandatory if the dam were to fail or if officials became certain it was about to fail, Hunt said. He said it was difficult to predict what sort of damage might result from a failure or how much time people would have to prepare for high water.

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