Disastrous. Unstoppable. Historic. Unprecedented.I remember the 1969 flood very, very well. To imagine this one is worse, is incredible. And that's why Amtrak is not running in North Dakota.
All words used to describe what city, county and state officials warn is an imminent assault on all residents of the Souris River Valley.
The highest flows ever recorded on the Souris are approaching a city whose defenses are destined to be over run. Can the city hold?
Dikes currently in place, recently improved greatly to combat high flows, are now expected to disappear under the traveling torrent. The amount of water flowing with a vengeance down the Souris River Valley is forecast to inundate Minot to a level seven to eight feet higher than the catastrophic and benchmark flood of 1969.
Saddened with that horrific knowledge, officials announced during a late afternoon press conference Monday that very little can be done to stop the powerful onslaught. Massive secondary dikes that were built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to save much of the town from the previous high on the Souris this year fall far short of defending against the impending and rapid rise of the Souris.
And more:
"It's pretty easy to get to 23,000 cfs, which is bearing down on Sherwood as we speak," said Alan Schlag, Monday. Schlag is a hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Bismarck.
For comparison purposes, the previous peak flow at Sherwood this year, one which caused great concern at all points downstream, was a mere 8,860 cfs.
"Basically, Canada is pouring the coals to releases from dams. Rafferty is wide open, Alameda upped to 1,800 Monday and Boundary was at about 5,000 cfs," said Schlag.
Dalrymple, who conversed with Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall on Monday, said he received assurances from the Canadians that all that could be done to prevent high flows was done.
Additionally, said Dalrymple, the citizens of Estevan are already enduring flooding hardships that may soon be experienced in Minot as well.
Wow, and you've already pointed out about how high devil's lake is. I can't imagine what this is doing to that area now!
ReplyDeleteI was able to catch one of the last Amtrak trains (if not the last train) across North Dakota from Chicago in early June and the water we saw from the train was incredible. It is impossible for me to describe. The photos are helpful, but one really "feels" it when the Amtrak train is literally creeping where water is lapping at the rails.
ReplyDeleteI was not able to return to Boston via Amtrak since Amtrak had discontinued services in North Dakota due to the flooding.