Flooding in Fargo, N.D. retreats as snowstorm approaches

Weary residents welcomed the Red River's further retreat Monday but faced an approaching snowstorm expected to kick up wind-whipped waves that could threaten the sandbag levees they built to protect their city from a major flood.

Engineers weren't worried about the storm's snow because it's unlikely to melt soon. They were concerned, however, that waves crashing against the dikes could weaken them.

The higher the wind speed, the higher the threat, said Jeff DeZellar, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"The forecast that we saw was 25 mph or more, and certainly that's enough wind to create some wave action on the river," he said Monday.

National Guard members places sheets of plastic over the levees to help them hold up against high waves. "It's important to get as much work done as we can before the storm comes," DeZellar said.

The week began Monday with much of Fargo shut down, school called off for the entire week and many businesses keeping their doors closed because of the rising Red River. With the storm expected to arrive in early afternoon Monday and last through Tuesday evening, many people just wanted things to get back to normal.

People were especially anxious as it gets tougher to pay the bills after a week of not drawing paychecks. "I'm not sure how I'm going to do it right now," said 24-year-old hair stylist Amber Fischer said of her paycheck-to-paycheck existence.

The Red River dropped slightly to 39.21 feet early Monday - less than record highs set earlier in the week but still nearly 22 feet above flood stage. City officials have said they would breathe easier when the river falls to 37 feet or lower, expected by Saturday.

The flood was caused by an enormous winter snowfall that melted and combined with more precipitation to send the river to record levels. The river flows from south to north through the tabletop terrain of North Dakota, providing few opportunities to drain.

Snow was moving toward Fargo from the south-central part of the state, where a slow-moving blizzard brought more than foot of snow Monday. The storm came a week after snowmelt and a Missouri River ice jam caused major flooding. Residents have been told to keep their sandbags handy as a precaution.

A 150-mile stretch of Interstate 94 remained shut down Monday from the Montana state line to the Bismarck area, where more than 14 inches of snow had fallen in places.

Public works officials were closely watching to make sure water and sewer systems remained safe. Fargo's water and sewer plants are right next to the river, and are protected by a secondary dike system.

"If we lose water and sewer, the city is uninhabitable," said Fargo City Administrator Pat Zavoral.