Fargo's Flood Forecast Worsens

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 26, 2009 7:55 PM CDT

The forecast in Fargo is actually getting worse. The Red River may crest at a potentially catastrophic 43 feet this weekend—2 feet higher than previous warnings, ABC News reports. "We're in uncharted territory," said the mayor, as volunteers raced to raise the levees in the North Dakota city. In a sign of the fear, workers have begun building a second set of dikes inside the main one, notes the New York Times.

Nursing homes have begun evacuations, and city officials encouraged residents to find safer ground. The river now stands at 39 feet and is expected to crest sometime Saturday afternoon. "We're still optimistic," said the mayor, giving his city odds of about 4-1 to beat the flood. Bismarck, meanwhile, may have dodged the worst of it after detonating explosions to break up an ice jam on the Missouri River.
(More North Dakota stories.)

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