Thursday, March 26, 2009 7:30am River Level = 45.7ft. I intended to get more updates last night as waters rose and the Sorlie bridge closed, but my camera died. At this point there is nothing to do but wait and watch. Long time Grand Forks residents are completely calm as water approaches the walls. In the past few days I have heard stories and comments from many people. One downtown business owner purchases flood insurance because he can't afford not to (that's what we thought!). Another says he has been paying for flood insurance for 11 years (through taxes and assessments), and knows that the protection system will hold. While I find this level of opimism scary, I think everyone will be OK this time. I want to make it clear: I don't think Grand Forks will flood. The thing is, I just can't help wonder how politics, egos, engineering, different media streams, and perhaps a dozen other things have numbed some people to Nature's Unpredictible Force. I have heard comments like, we don't have to worry, "it's a perfect thaw" and, "There is no way the city will let downtown flood," made without qualification. It was nice to hear an injection of reality at the flood briefings UND has held. Here, at least, there is an admission of uncertainty due to Nature's Unpredictible Force. Also, good luck to all the residents of Fargo as they continue to battle against an anticipated record crest. Flooding is bad here in North Dakota, but a federal disaster is already in place. Hopefully aid comes quickly to those in need.    11am River Level = 46ft. ---Major Flood Stage--- (No Kidding!) 4:30pm River Level = 46.6ft. It's getting very tense in Fargo. A few neighborhoods near the river a being evacuated. Fargo's mayor was on the news a few minutes ago with his crew to let folks know that the big problem is roads are flooding over cutting them off. They hope the dikes hold, but the latest forecast is a crest of 43 ft. Saturday. They thought they it beaten today as the dike was built to withstand 42ft. Certainly no one is giving up, but emotions are fragile. The National Weather service is having a very difficult time with predictions as the river swells to an anticipated record level near 7pm. The forecast for Grand Forks is not yet available, but river levels have remained lower than forecast for the past few hours.      waters are creeping near the wall of East Grand Forks continue |