Today's Most Popular Video
Mar 30, 2009 8:55 pm US/Central
Nat. Guard Commander Says River Will Crest Again
FARGO, N.D. (AP) ―
-
-
Brian Webb sets pumps to remove flood water from the campus of Oak Grove Lutheran School after a levee break flooded the area March 29, 2009, in Fargo, North Dakota.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
North Dakota's National Guard commander expects the Red River, which has been slowly receding, to rise again from melting ice and a new snowstorm, although he says it's not likely to set another record.
"With the snow that's falling out there right now, it does raise a great concern," Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk told state legislators at a Capitol briefing Monday. "We will see a second crest. What we don't know at this point is when, or about how high, it will be."
In an interview afterward, Sprynczynatyk said he did not expect the Red River to again reach its record level of 40.82 feet, where the National Weather Service says it peaked early Saturday morning. By midafternoon Monday, it had fallen to just under 39 feet.
More than a foot of new snow in the southern Red River Valley, along with the ice and snow already there, is likely to drive up the river level later this week when forecasters predict the weather will get warmer, Sprynczynatyk said.
"The cold weather we've had really has made a difference in holding things back," he said. "But if you fly over the Red River Valley right now, you see an awful lot of snow yet to come, and an awful lot of ice."
Sprynczynatyk is the former chief engineer for the state Water Commission, and he has extensive experience in hydrology.
"We're winning the fight. There's no question about it," he said. "Unfortunately, we've got a long ways to go."
A snowstorm that dumped more than a foot of snow on Bismarck was expected to bring as much as 10 inches of snow to Fargo on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. Forty-five miles to the south, Wahpeton was expected to get up to 14 inches.
The flooding already has resulted in a federal disaster declaration, which means the federal government will pay 75 percent of the flood-fighting costs; the state and local governments will be responsible for the rest.
Gov. John Hoeven said Monday the state will press for federal aid for individuals property losses from the flood, and said the state may suffer enough damage to qualify for 90 percent federal reimbursement for governments' flood-fighting costs.
Sprynczynatyk estimated North Dakota has spent at least $40 million so far on efforts to fight the flood.
(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Swimsuit Cover Model Forgot To Wear Top
Slideshow: Flooding In Red River Valley
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
