FARGO, N.D. (AP) — High school and college students were let out of class Monday to help with sandbagging as residents raced to hold off possible flooding on the rising Red River.
City officials planned to fill more than 1 million sandbags, but with more rain forecast they increased the need to nearly 2 million sandbags — about 500,000 each day by the end of the week.
"We're confident that we can get the bags delivered," said Bruce Grubb, Fargo's enterpise director. "Getting them made is a more daunting challenge."
North Dakota State University canceled classes Monday and told students transportation would be provided to and from volunteer sites. Fargo high schools also excused busloads of students to help.
"The students are eager to help. We're ready to go," Fargo school spokesman Dan Huffman said.
Officials in Fargo, with about 90,000 residents, and across the river in northwestern Minnesota issued urgent pleas Sunday for volunteers to help with sandbagging as a storm increased the flood threat in an area already expected to be swamped by a record crest.
"We need this help," Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney said Sunday. "We need to stay calm, we need to stay cool, but we need to get serious and get this done."
Flood stage at Fargo is 18 feet, and the National Weather Service said the Red River had reached 25.3 feet Monday morning. The river was expected to crest at 39 feet to 41 feet in the Fargo and Moorhead, Minn., area by Friday, a day earlier and a foot higher than projected.
Officials said a dike protecting downtown Fargo was being raised to about 43 feet and an emergency levee south of the city was being completed.
The Minnesota National Guard said Sunday that more than 200 soldiers were being sent to the Red River Valley to help with the flood fight, and the North Dakota National Guard said about 250 members were ready.
Flooding also forced people from their homes in small ranching and farming communities in south-central North Dakota.
North Dakota National Guard members used boats Monday morning to ferry about five rural residents from farms in Emmons County, said county spokeswoman Marlys Ohlhause.
Also in Emmons County, 50 to 75 homes were evacuated Sunday night in Linson, a town of about 1,300 south of Bismarck, said county emergency manager Shawna Paul.
About 40 families abandoned their homes in Beulah on Sunday and early Monday, said Mercer County emergency manager Richard Sorenson. County rescuers used a boat to pick up two people from their homes Monday, he said. Beulah is a coal country town of about 3,150 northwest of Bismarck.
"There are no injuries — just a lot of people stressed out and worried," Sorenson said.
"When Mother Nature decides to do her thing, Mother Nature wins every time," said Stephen Perry, a Beulah city councilman. He said about 400 residents were told to prepare for possible evacuation because of the rising Knife River.
In Mott, a ranching town of about 850 in southwestern North Dakota, 10 homes were evacuated along the Cannonball River, Mayor Troy Mosbrucker said. The river had gone down about a foot since cresting at midnight but he said officials were worried about the threat of as much as 18 inches of snow beginning late Monday.
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Associated Press writer James MacPherson in Bismarck contributed to this report.
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