red river rising

Wow...I am blown away with the proportion of rising flood waters near Fargo, ND. Areas surrounding the Red River are desperately scrambling to fight off flood waters that, between yesterday and today, rose five feet--FIVE FEET--which could set a new all-time record. Flood stage at that river is 18.5 feet, and it's expected to crest as high as 41.5 feet.

Sand-bagging efforts have led to an interlocking erosion control wall made of heavy steel frames then filled with sand--a method that was used during last year's floods here in Iowa. Last I read, 70% of their sandbag needs have been fulfilled with the National Guard as well as college students, whose classes were canceled, coming onto the scene to help. The goal is to fill two million sandbags.

We're nearing the one-year mark of our major flood from 2008. Seeing this event unfold has been quite foreboding.