The Red River is the culprit, rising to 20 feet above flood stage, yesterday and sending as much as five feet of water through a 50-square block area of the town. Much of the south side of town is under water. Had it not been for city crews and hundreds of volunteers who laid sandbags and built earthen dikes it would have been worse. Local officials are unwilling to predict that the worst has passed.
Ice jams continue to congest river channels, bringing the potential for more overland flooding.
This problem is particularly evident in Wahpeton, ND, and Breckenridge. Rising water and forced evacuations are also affecting the communities of East Grand Forks, Crookston and Warren. There are 11 people reported in those facilities. Boil-water advisories have been issued for the communities of Granite Falls and Montevideo due to floodwater contamination of the drinking water systems. The Minnesota National Guard has provided a water buffalo to Montevideo, and other agencies are donating canned water to both communities.