2009 Red River flood

Last updated
2009 Red River flood
Fargo Areal Photo.jpg
Red River of the North in Fargo, March 28, 2009
DateMarch 2009–April 2009
Location North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba
Deaths3 [1]
Property damageUnknown

The 2009 Red River flood along the Red River of the North in North Dakota and Minnesota in the United States and Manitoba in Canada brought record flood levels to the Fargo-Moorhead area. The flood was a result of saturated and frozen ground, spring snowmelt exacerbated by additional rain and snow storms, and virtually flat terrain. Communities along the Red River prepared for more than a week as the U.S. National Weather Service continuously updated the predictions for the city of Fargo, North Dakota, with an increasingly higher projected river crest. Originally predicted to reach a level of near 43 feet (13 m) at Fargo by March 29, the river in fact crested at 40.84 feet (12.45 m) at 12:15 a.m. March 28, [2] and started a slow decline. [3] The river continued to rise to the north as the crest moved downstream. [4]

Contents

Background

Geology

The Red River flows from the United States into Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. Since it flows northward, into colder climates, melting snow and river ice, as well as runoff from its tributaries, often create ice jams, which cause the river to overflow. The valley is essentially flat, leading to overland flooding, with no high ground on which to take refuge. [5]

Climate

Ground which was already saturated when it froze at the onset of winter, melting snow which could not be absorbed by the frozen ground, [6] [7] and additional precipitation from high winter snow fall, a rain storm on March 22 and a later snowstorm, high temperature snow melt rate, are reasons for the serious flooding. [6] [8] [9]

A low-pressure area caused the rain storm on March 22 and by March 25 a total of 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 in) fell in the Winnipeg area, and 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in) in southern Manitoba. In northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, around 8 inches of snow accumulated from the same storm. [10]

Predictions and preparations

Fargo-Moorhead

A line of sandbagging volunteers in Fargo, North Dakota. Sandbagging line Fargo 2009.JPG
A line of sandbagging volunteers in Fargo, North Dakota.
HESCO collapsible barriers were used to prevent flooding HESCOBarrierAssembleFargoMar2409.JPG
HESCO collapsible barriers were used to prevent flooding

Warnings for the 2009 flood occurred as early as March 9 when the National Weather Service warned that the Fargo-Moorhead area could see a significant flood of between 35 and 36 feet (11 and 11 m). [11] As preparations began for the flooding on March 16, North Dakota Governor John Hoeven declared a statewide disaster in anticipation of flooding across the state. [12] On March 19, the National Weather Service raised the predicted flood level in the Fargo area to between 37 and 40 feet (11 and 12 m). The city began filling sandbags on March 20. [13] In anticipation of a rain and snow storm, the predicted crest level was raised on March 22 to a range from 39 to 41 feet (12 to 12 m). [14]

Volunteers continued preparing sandbags, with 560,000 bags filled by late March 22, out of an expected 1.5 million to 2 million needed. [15] By March 24, residents in Fargo-Moorhead had filled over 1 million sandbags and were attempting to fill a total of 2 million by the 26th. [16] A levee in Georgetown, Minnesota was raised another two feet, and emergency dikes were being built in Fargo, Moorhead, Harwood, Grafton and Richland County. [17] The predicted flood crest was raised again on March 26, changed to between 41 and 42 feet (12 and 13 m) by March 28, with a possibility of 43 feet (13 m).

Volunteers fill sandbags in the Fargodome. Defense.gov photo essay 090324-F-0681L-090.jpg
Volunteers fill sandbags in the Fargodome.

In addition to the sandbags, the construction of the dikes protecting the city required large amounts of clay. Clay had been brought from several places in and around the city, including the soccer field at Centennial Elementary School and around Discovery Middle School. [18]

Wahpeton-Breckenridge

Elsewhere along the river, early predictions for the Wahpeton-Breckenridge area saw a predicted level of at least 16 feet (4.9 m). [19] By March 24, the National Weather Service predicted the crest in Wahpeton and Breckenridge not to top 18 feet (5.5 m), below the cities' levees. [20]

Grand Forks

In the Grand Forks, North Dakota area, flood predictions released February 27 predicted a possibility of a flood crest between 44 and 46 feet (13 and 14 m). The snowstorm that struck March 9–10 raised the predicted levels between 47 and 50 feet (14 and 15 m) prompting the city to declare a state of emergency. [21] On March 22 the predicted crest level was changed to 52 feet (16 m). [14]

Manitoba

Flooding in Manitoba on April 19, 2009 Flooding in Manitoba (3443145093).jpg
Flooding in Manitoba on April 19, 2009

In Manitoba, the 2009 flood was the second worst on record since 1826. The Red River Floodway was not initially opened, due to the Red River being full of ice, which can lead to damage of the floodway and the flooding of Selkirk. The Red River Floodway was opened in early April once the ice jams cleared. Several towns and R.M.s declared a state of emergency due to the ice jams built up in places along the Red. Flooding in Manitoba was not expected until the second week of April. The CPR Line from Winnipeg to Emerson closed.

The floodway was opened around 1 p.m. on April 8 due to a crest expected to hit the city of Winnipeg. Highway 75, a major artery between Winnipeg and the U.S. border, was closed between April 7 and May 13. This closure cost Manitoba trucking companies thousands of dollars in additional travel costs and severely hurt the economy of the town of Morris. [22]

An eight-year-old boy fell into the river on Thursday, April 9 on the Westroc Hutterite Colony which is near Portage la Prairie. [23] Samuel Gross came out of his 13-day coma after being under icy cold water for 20 minutes. The team under Murray Kesselman, director of the Health Sciences Centre pediatric intensive care unit, worked on Gross's heart for two hours before it started to beat on its own and he began to recover. [24] [25] Walter Imbeck, 68 years old, went missing since April 11 when friends and neighbours thought he was trying to clear a broken drain behind his home, which was along the riverbank. [26] As of April 13, several communities north of Winnipeg had to be evacuated due to flash flooding and ice jams on the Red River. It was predicted to be the third worst flood, next to the floods of 1950 and 1997. A 79-year-old woman, Mary, died, and her 82-year-old husband, Glen Silverthorn, went missing Easter Sunday after their car was swept into the Woody River. A search commenced, and his body was found on May 19. [27] [28] [29]

Prime Minister Stephen Harper toured the flooded area on April 14, 2009. [30] Damages were expected to be in the millions. On April 15, 2009, Winnipeg declared a local state of emergency due to several of the rivers, which flow into the Red River, swelling extremely fast. [31] On April 16, 2009, the Red River crested in Winnipeg at 22.6 feet (6.9 m) before retreating. If Winnipeg had not had any flood protection, the city would have been 9.23 meters (30.3 ft) submerged. [32] The crest from North Dakota was expected to hit either April 19 or April 20 and forced 28,000 evacuations. [33] 777 km2 (300 sq mi) are under water at some places 19 kilometers (12 mi) wide as reported April 18. [34] 740 people were evacuated from the Peguis First Nation, which is located north of Winnipeg. Peguis Chief Glenn Hudson said "either build a dike, or a floodway around ... I think we have to do something," [35] Steve Ashton, minister responsible for the emergency measures organization, said that Disaster Financial Assistance was doubled to $200,000. The Federal Government was expected to assist with up to 90% of the relief, and 100% on reserves. [36] [37]

The province assessed whether homeowner buyouts would be voluntary or mandatory. "We'd look at voluntary buyouts as the first option, but the municipalities have raised this ...they're the ones that have to send in first responders and rescue crews," said Steve Ashton, the province's Emergency Measures Minister. [38] Mayor Sam Katz reported an estimated $5 million for sandbag flood prevention costs, which included making and setting into place the sandbags and patrolling them, and then removing them after the river went back down. Some roads and bridges were also damaged as a result of flooding. Peguis Chief Glen Hudson estimated the evacuation and dike construction for the first nation reserve was pegged at approximately $3 million. [39] A water quality warning went into effect, and residents who remained were advised to boil water before use. Free water analysis was provided by the Manitoba government until July. [40] On April 20, the total amount of land submerged was upgraded to 1,680 km2 (650 sq mi), and the river crest was still 60 kilometers (37 mi) south of Winnipeg. [41]

Flooding

A graph of the flood gauge reading at Fargo from March 25-April 4, showing the previous record level in red Fargo flood gage 2009.png
A graph of the flood gauge reading at Fargo from March 25–April 4, showing the previous record level in red
U.S. President Barack Obama, at the U.S. Capitol, meets with Minnesota and North Dakota's senators and representatives about the flooding. President Obama meets with North Dakota and Minnesota representatives.jpg
U.S. President Barack Obama, at the U.S. Capitol, meets with Minnesota and North Dakota's senators and representatives about the flooding.

At 7:15 p.m. CDT on March 26, 2009, the river exceeded the 1997 crest of 39.57 feet (12.06 m) at Fargo, which was the previous second-highest crest. The projected crest was 24 feet (7.3 m) above flood stage and higher than the record-setting floods in 1997 and 1897. [42]

At 2:30 a.m. CDT on March 27, the National Weather Service offices in Grand Forks issued a Flash Flood Warning for extreme east-central Cass County due to a levee breach in Fargo on Lindenwood Drive. [43] With the river more than 6 meters (20 feet) above flood stage, there appeared to be a growing sense in Fargo that despite best efforts, it might not be possible to build dikes high enough to hold back the river. [44] The Manitoba government upgraded the 2009 flood as the second highest to hit southern Manitoba over the last 150 years, just 60 centimeters (24 in) lower than the 1997 Flood of the Century. [45] The highest level in 2009 was 6.9 meters (23 ft), and in 1997 it was 7.5 meters (25 ft). However, without flood control measures such as the Red River floodway, Portage Diversion and Shellmouth dam, the peak would have been 10.2 meters (33 ft), which is higher than the 1950 peak of 9.3 meters (31 ft) in Winnipeg. [46] The Red River showed signs of receding April 23, however the Souris river was expected to crest towards the end of the month of April. [47]

Ice jams

On March 25, an ice jam formed north of Winnipeg, causing the municipalities of St. Andrews, St. Clements, East St. Paul and West St. Paul to declare a state of emergency. Flooding from the ice jam necessitated the evacuation of about thirty homes. [48] While the jam was broken, it reformed near Lower Fort Garry, causing the water to rise 4.5 meters (15 feet) in 2 hours. [49] On March 31, a state of emergency was declared for the city of Selkirk due to concerns over ice jams.

Dominion City was the first town in Manitoba to declare a state of emergency on Monday, March 23. [50] Government officials handed out evacuation alerts to 850 residents. Forty homes north of Winnipeg were evacuated, while dozens of homes were flooded due to ice jams. On Thursday, March 26, some 95 elderly and special needs people were evacuated from the Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation. [51] An engineering firm detonated charges downstream of Bismarck, North Dakota to clear an ice jam which was causing flooding in the city causing an evacuation of 1,700 persons. There were three million sandbags, rolls of poly film Hesco bastion flood walls, and water pumps sent out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to North Dakota. [52] Both North Dakota and Manitoba used backhoes from the river bank and from bridges, but these machines had a 20-foot (6.1 m) reach for a 0.25-mile-wide (0.40 km) river. [53] A Chinook helicopter was deployed with a 1,400-kilogram (3,100 lb) concrete weight to try to break up an ice jam, but only small pieces of ice broke away. [54] The North Dakota National Guard used 160 pounds (73 kg) of C-4 plastic explosives on the 3-foot-thick (0.91 m) ice placed into 80 holes. The ice was then coated with road salt to hasten melting. The Army Corps of Engineers also resorted to using sand, salt, chemicals and drilling to alleviate the ice jams. [55] The Manitoba government chose not to use dynamite, as explosives work well on large ice sheets but not as well on broken and fused ice. To set the dynamite, holes need to be drilled in the ice, which would require someone to hang suspended from a helicopter. The result of dynamite forms a hole centrally in the ice without loosening up the ice jam blockage to allow water to flow past. [56] Manitoba purchased five new certified emergency response trailers (CERTs), which are 15-meter-long (49 ft) tubes with 60 compartments which can be filled with water and used to build dikes. These tubes take 10 minutes to fill up and provide the same protection as 500 sandbags. [57] Volunteers created over 600,000 sandbags to shore up defences against the Red River and unpredictable flows caused by ice jams. [58] [59]

Dikes were placed along the shoreline within the city to protect neighbourhoods against ice jam flooding. Over 1,600 volunteers came out since April 1 to assist with creating sandbag dikes which were built 20.5 feet (6.2 m) high. Frozen culverts and sewer inlets were cleared to allow runoff from meltwaters and floodwaters. [60]

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Amphibious icebreaker in Selkirk
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Greg Selinger about 3rd icebreaker

Amphibex excavator icebreakers were at work breaking up ice flows on the Red River. [61] Ice breakers and backhoes were to be strategically placed along the Red River Floodway, which might have needed to be opened before the ice was fully melted. Officials examined past ice jams and provided contingency plans if the Floodway jammed upstream of bridges or on tight corners. [62]

On Easter Sunday, April 12, Winnipeg was clear of ice blocks and ice jams. [63] Sightseers traveling by car, boat, kayak and anyone ignoring road closures were being ticketed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as they were hampering ice clearing operations. [64] [65] Residents of the rural municipalities of St. Andrews and St. Clements were given evacuation alerts on Good Friday. Some chose to remain behind, and rescue efforts commenced for them over the Easter week-end. [66] [67] Homes were smashed in and knocked off their basements and footings by 7-foot-high (2.1 m) sheets of ice. [29]

Devils Lake and Stump Lake

There was a 6% chance Devils Lake and Stump Lake would rise to historic levels, which could have caused problems in the Sheyenne River Valley. [68]

Flooding and ice jam mitigation considerations

Structural adaptations to the river channel or the placement of dams and ice booms would control where ice jams would form. Hairpin curves and bridges are problem areas for the jamming of ice. Following the 1997 Red River flood, Grand Forks and East Grand Forks smoothed out some of the river curves in those cities. [55] Rural municipality reeves have approached the Canadian government with a CA$288,000 plan which would use the province of Manitoba's existing Amphibex ice-breaking excavators to dredge the Red River between Selkirk and the mouth of Lake Winnipeg. [69]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Fargo’s Flood Fight Goes on as Red River Levels Fall. Bloomberg.com. March 29, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Fargo mayor: More levees will be breached". National Public Radio. March 29, 2009. Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2009. (AP)
  3. ↑ "Daily and Hourly Changes in Level for the Red River at Fargo, ND".
  4. ↑ Real-time water data for Red River of the North at Pembina, ND, United States Geological Survey, March 29, 2009
  5. ↑ Schwert, Don (interviewed by Tom Crann), The geology of the Red River flood plain, Minnesota Public Radio, 25 March 2005. Taped interview.
  6. 1 2 Kives, Bartley (2009-04-04). "A Gathering of Waters How the Red swells on its journey to Lake Winnipeg". CBC.ca. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  7. ↑ Nelson, Tim (March 27, 2009). "Record flood can be traced to summer and fall rains". Minnesota Public Radio.
  8. ↑ "Flood fears spreading through southern Manitoba". CBC News. March 17, 2009. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
  9. ↑ Kolpack, Dave (March 21, 2009). "ND city scrambles to prepare for record flooding". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 24, 2009. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
  10. ↑ McKinney, Matt; Bill McAuliffe; Allie Shah (March 25, 2009). "In Fargo, a race against the river". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on March 29, 2009. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  11. ↑ "Fargo stands 50-50 chance of major flooding". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. March 10, 2009.
  12. ↑ "Hoeven Declares Statewide Flood Emergency". Governor of North Dakota. March 16, 2009. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
  13. ↑ "Fargo residents rushing to fill sandbags for flood onslaught". Winnipeg Free Press. March 20, 2009.
  14. 1 2 "Crest predictions rise: 52.5 feet (16.0 m) in GF; 41 feet (12 m) in Fargo". Grand Forks Herald. March 22, 2009. Retrieved 2008-03-27.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. ↑ "'Fear is setting in' as sandbag volunteers desperately needed in flood fight". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. March 23, 2009. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  16. ↑ Welch, Chris (March 25, 2009). "Flood warnings issued; N. Dakota braces for record deluge". CNN.com. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  17. ↑ Springer, Patrick (March 22, 2009). "Race against time: Flood-fighting efforts intensify as storm threatens area". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
  18. ↑ Smith, Kelly (2009-03-30). "FLOOD UPDATE: Fargo Public Schools slated to resume next Monday". Fargo Forum.
  19. ↑ "Wahpeton-Breckenridge Flood Outlook". MSNBC. KVLY-TV. March 16, 2009. Archived from the original on March 31, 2009. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
  20. ↑ Kolpack, Dave (March 24, 2009). "Lower projection on Red upstream may help Fargo". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead.
  21. ↑ Johnson, Ryan (March 11, 2009). "New snow will impact flood outlook". Grand Forks Herald. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
  22. ↑ "Manitoba trucking industry hurting financially from flooded highway". CBC News. May 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  23. ↑ "Boy dies after being rescued from culvert". CBC News. 2009-04-12. Archived from the original on 13 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  24. ↑ "Boy rescued from culvert regains consciousness". CBC news. April 23, 2009. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  25. ↑ "Boy's recovery from near-drowning and coma a rare thrill: doctor". CBC News. April 24, 2009. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  26. ↑ Matin, Nick (April 19, 2009). "Missing man feared dead in Red River flood". Winnipeg Free Press.[ permanent dead link ]
  27. ↑ Sanders, Carol; Bartley Kives; Jen Skerritt; Bill Redekop (April 14, 2009). "1 dead, 1 missing in northern Manitoba flooding". Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  28. ↑ Skerritt, Jen; Bill Redekop (April 14, 2009). "Manitoba coping with third-worst flood of century". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2009-04-27.[ dead link ]
  29. 1 2 Skerritt, Jen; Bill Redekop (April 14, 2009). "Manitoba coping with third-worst flood of century". Leader Post. Retrieved 2009-04-27.[ dead link ]
  30. ↑ "Harper tours flooded regions in Southern Manitoba". CBC News. April 14, 2009. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  31. ↑ Halusa, Goran; Lorraine Remer. "Floods on the Red River". NASA. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  32. ↑ Turen, Paul; Jason Halstead (April 16, 2009). "Manitoba flood second highest on record Forecast beats '50, '79 levels; only '97 was higher". Sun Media. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2009-04-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  33. ↑ Kusch, Lary; Bartley Kives (April 15, 2009). "Flood waters swamp Manitoba, force more evacuations". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on 19 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  34. ↑ "'Worst not over,' Manitoba tells those in flood zone". CBC news. April 18, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  35. ↑ "Manitoba First Nations bear brunt of flooding". CTV News. April 19, 2009. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  36. ↑ "Manitoba doubles flood relief compensation to $200K". Winnipeg Free Press. April 20, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.[ dead link ]
  37. ↑ "Government might buy, not rebuild, some flood-prone homes". CBC News. April 20, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  38. ↑ Lambert, Steve (April 28, 2009). "Manitoba ponders whether to force flood moves". The Canadian Press. Globe and mail. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  39. ↑ "Winnipeg flood clean-up expected to cost millions: mayor". CBC news. April 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  40. ↑ "Flood-weary Manitobans keep watch over dikes, pumps". CBC news. April 19, 2009. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  41. ↑ "Manitoba flood has submerged twice as much land as previously thought 1,680 square kilometres under water; crest still moving through southern province". CBC News. Retrieved 2004-04-27.
  42. ↑ Springer, Patrick (March 23, 2009). "Forecast flood crest earlier, higher than first thought". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  43. ↑ NWS Grand Forks, ND
  44. ↑ "Cold temperatures slowing rise of the Red River: U.S. forecaster". CBC News. March 26, 2009. Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  45. ↑ Kusch, Larry; Bartley Kives (April 18, 2009). "Winnipeg through the worst of flooding: officials". The Star Phoenix. Retrieved 2009-04-27.[ dead link ]
  46. ↑ "Government might buy, not rebuild, some flood-prone homes". CBC news. April 20, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  47. ↑ "Manitoba flood waters slowly receding". Sun Media. April 23, 2009. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  48. ↑ "Ice jam dislodged north of Winnipeg". CBC News. March 26, 2009. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  49. ↑ "New ice jam raising water levels, and fears, north of Winnipeg". CBC News. March 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  50. ↑ "Roseau River First Nation readying for flood evacuation". CBC.ca. 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2009-03-26.[ dead link ]
  51. ↑ Chinta, Puxley; Steve Lambert (2009-03-26). "Manitoba communities 'expecting the worst, hoping for the best' as floods threaten". The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on March 27, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  52. ↑ "Ice Jam Detonated at North Dakota Capital, Residents Evacuate". Environment News Service (ENS). 2009-03-26. Archived from the original on 29 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  53. ↑ "Ice jam dislodged north of Winnipeg". CBC News. 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  54. ↑ "Snow, ice jam continue threat in Red River flood fight". CBC News. 2009-03-30. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  55. 1 2 Haga, Chuck (26 March 2009). "No one answer to Red River's troublesome ice jams". MinnPost. Archived from the original on 5 April 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
  56. ↑ "Manitoba blows off dynamite as a solution to ice jams". CBC News. 2009-03-31. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  57. ↑ MSN news (2009-03-26). "Manitoba invests in new flood-fighting technology". Bell Canada, Microsoft Corporation. Archived from the original on April 4, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  58. ↑ "Hundreds of Manitobans work to fill sandbags to deal with floodwaters". The Canadian Press. 2009-04-04. Archived from the original on April 9, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  59. ↑ "Red River drops as locals learn to cope with flood". CTV news. April 17, 2009. Archived from the original on April 20, 2009.
  60. ↑ EmergWeb Media Centre (2009-04-04). "Winnipeggers come out by the hundreds to volunteer! Dike-Building Continues Due to Possible Ice Jams". City of Winnipeg. Archived from the original on March 31, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  61. ↑ Ice Hammer Archived 2010-10-06 at the Wayback Machine Discovery Channel . Accessed: 8 January 2011.
  62. ↑ Skerritt, Jen (2009-04-04). "Flood fight ramps up as Red's crest approaches". Winnipeg Press. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  63. ↑ Romaniuk, Ross (2009-04-12). "Manitoba flood thread melting away Huge blocks push up banks of Red River in Selkirk". Sun Media. Canoe.ca. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2009-04-12.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  64. ↑ "RCMP ready to ticket Red River floodway sightseers". CBC News. 2009-04-12. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  65. ↑ </ "More sections of Highway 75 closed due to Red River flooding". CBC News. 2009-04-12. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  66. ↑ "Flood damage, evacuations reported as ice wall moves north of Winnipeg". CBC News. 2009-04-12. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  67. ↑ "Flood forces rooftop rescues, ice wall moves north of Winnipeg". CBC News. 2009-04-12. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  68. ↑ "Devils Lake & Stump Lake Could Rise To Historic Levels on KFYR-TV North Dakota's NBC News Leader". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  69. ↑ Owen, Bruce (2009-03-19). "Dredge the Red, reeves urge feds Would reduce ice jams on river, leaders say". MinnPost. Archived from the original on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-06.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Agassiz</span> Large lake in central North America at the end of the last glacial period

Lake Agassiz was a large proglacial lake that existed in central North America during the late Pleistocene, fed by meltwater from the retreating Laurentide Ice Sheet at the end of the last glacial period. At its peak, the lake's area was larger than all of the modern Great Lakes combined. It eventually drained into what is now Hudson Bay, leaving behind Lake Winnipeg, Lake Winnipegosis, Lake Manitoba, and Lake of the Woods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red River of the North</span> River in the United States and Canada

The Red River, also called the Red River of the North to differentiate it from the Red River in the south of the continent, is a river in the north-central United States and central Canada. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota, it flows northward through the Red River Valley, forming most of the border of Minnesota and North Dakota and continuing into Manitoba. It empties into Lake Winnipeg, whose waters join the Nelson River and ultimately flow into Hudson Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red River Floodway</span> Artificial flood control channel in Manitoba, Canada

The Red River Floodway is an artificial flood control waterway in Western Canada. It is a 47 km (29 mi) long channel which, during flood periods, takes part of the Red River's flow around the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba to the east and discharges it back into the Red River below the dam at Lockport. It can carry floodwater at a rate of up to 140,000 cubic feet per second (4,000 m3/s), expanded in the 2000s from its original channel capacity of 90,000 cubic feet per second (2,500 m3/s).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 Red River flood</span> Major flood on the Red River of the North

The Red River flood of 1997 was a major flood that occurred in April and May 1997 along the Red River of the North in Minnesota, North Dakota, and southern Manitoba. It was the most severe flood of the river since 1826. The flood reached throughout the Red River Valley, affecting the cities of Fargo and Winnipeg, but none so greatly as Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, where floodwaters reached more than 3 miles (4.8 km) inland. They inundated virtually everything in the twin communities. Total damages for the Red River region were US$3.5 billion. The flood was the result of abundant snowfall and extreme temperatures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red River Valley</span> Region in central North America that is drained by the Red River of the North

The Red River Valley is a region in central North America that is drained by the Red River of the North; it is part of both Canada and the United States. Forming the border between Minnesota and North Dakota when these territories were admitted as states in the United States, this fertile valley has been important to the economies of these states and to Manitoba, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selkirk, Manitoba</span> City in Manitoba, Canada

Selkirk is a city in the western Canadian province of Manitoba, located on the Red River about 22 kilometres (14 mi) northeast of Winnipeg, the provincial capital. It has a population of 10,504 as of the 2021 census.

St. Vital is a ward and neighbourhood of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1950 Red River flood</span> Historic flood in North Dakota, United States and Manitoba, Canada

The 1950 Red River flood was a devastating flood that took place along the Red River in The Dakotas and Manitoba from April 15 to June 12, 1950. Damage was particularly severe in the city of Winnipeg and its environs, which were inundated on May 5, also known as Black Friday to some residents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portage Diversion</span> Spillway in Manitoba, Canada

The Portage Diversion is a water control structure on the Assiniboine River near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. The project was made as part of a larger attempt to prevent flooding in the Red River Valley. The Portage Diversion consists of two separate gates which divert some of the flow of water in the Assiniboine River to a 29 km long diversion channel that empties into Lake Manitoba near Delta Beach. This helps prevent flooding on the Assiniboine down river from the diversion, including in Winnipeg, where the Assiniboine River meets the Red River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography and climate of Winnipeg</span>

Winnipeg lies at the bottom of the Red River Valley, a low-lying flood plain with an extremely flat topography. This valley was formed by the ancient glacial Lake Agassiz which has rich deposits of black soil. Winnipeg is on the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies in Western Canada; it is known as the 'Gateway to the West'. It is relatively close to many large Canadian Shield lakes and parks, as well as Lake Winnipeg. Winnipeg is bordered by tallgrass prairie to the west and south and the aspen parkland to the northeast.

The history of flooding in Canada includes floods caused by snowmelt runoff or freshet flooding, storm-rainfall and "flash flooding", ice jams during ice formation and spring break-up, natural dams, coastal flooding on ocean or lake coasts from storm surges, hurricanes and tsunamis. Urban flooding can be caused by stormwater runoff, riverine flooding and structural failure when engineered flood management structures, including dams and levees, prove inadequate to manage the quantities and force of flood waters. Floods can also occur when groundwater levels rise entering buildings cracks in foundation, floors and basements. Flooding is part of the natural environmental process. Flooding along large river systems is more frequent in spring where peak flows are often governed by runoff volume due to rainfall and snowmelt, but can take place in summer with flash floods in urban systems that respond to short-duration, heavy rainfall. Flooding due to hurricanes, or downgraded severe storms, is a concern from August to October when tropical storms can affect Eastern North America. Flood events have had a significant effect on various regions of the country. Flooding is the costliest natural disaster for Canadians. Most home insurance claims in Canada deal with water damage due to sewer back-up, not fire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 Red River flood in the United States</span> Flood in the United States in 1997

The Red River flood of 1997 in the United States was a major flood that occurred in April 1997, along the Red River of the North in North Dakota and Minnesota. The flood reached throughout the Red River Valley, affecting the cities of Fargo, Moorhead, and Winnipeg, while Grand Forks and East Grand Forks received the most damage, where floodwaters reached over 3 miles (5 km) inland, inundating virtually everything in the twin communities. Total damages for the Red River region were US$3.5 billion.

The US State of North Dakota experienced significant flooding in its major river basins in 2009, following abnormally heavy winter snows atop saturated and frozen ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red River floods</span> Index of articles associated with the same name

The Red River floods refer to the various flooding events in recent history of the Red River of the North, which forms the border between North Dakota and Minnesota and flows north, into Manitoba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Red River flood</span> 2011 flood affecting Canada and the US

The 2011 Red River flood took place along the Red River of the North in Manitoba in Canada and North Dakota and Minnesota in the United States beginning in April 2011. The flood was, in part, due to high moisture levels in the soil from the previous year, which meant that further accumulation would threaten the flood-prone region. Flood predictors in Winnipeg were worried that a dual crest of both the Assiniboine River and the Red might crest at the city at the same time. Beginning around April 8, 50 homes were evacuated and two more were flooded after an ice jam in St. Andrews, Manitoba caused the river to flood over its banks.

The 2011 Assiniboine River flood was caused by above average precipitation in Western Manitoba and Saskatchewan. This was a 1 in 300 year flood that affected much of Western Manitoba. The flooding in Manitoba was expected to mostly involve the 2011 Red River Flood but instead the more severe flooding was found on the Assiniboine in the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Souris River flood</span> 2011 flood affecting Canada and USA

The 2011 Souris/Mouse River flood in Canada and the United States occurred in June and was greater than a hundred-year flooding event for the river. The US Army Corps of Engineers estimated the flood to have a recurrence interval of two to five centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Assiniboine River flood</span> 2014 disaster in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada

The 2014 Assiniboine River flood was caused by above average precipitation in western Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Unlike most prior floods, this flood was not due to spring runoff, but rather significant rainfall. Flooding and high water involved both the main stem of the Assiniboine River and many of its tributaries including the Qu'Appelle River and the Souris River. The flood came just 3 years after the 2011 Assiniboine River Flood which was considered a 1 in 300 year event. Peak flows along the river for the first crest were generally slightly less than in 2011. However, the second peak on the river has exceeded 2011 levels starting near St. Lazare, Manitoba up to Brandon, Manitoba so far.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion Project</span> Flood control project on the Red River in the US

The Fargo-Moorhead (FM) Area Diversion project, officially known as the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Diversion Flood Risk Management Project, is a large, regional flood control infrastructure project on the Red River of the North, which forms the border between North Dakota and Minnesota and flows north to Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Midwestern U.S. floods</span>

In April 2013, persistent heavy rains caused widespread flooding, primarily impacting the Midwestern and Great Lakes regions. In a span of two days on April 17 and 18, heavy rainfall associated with a slow-moving storm system caused widespread flooding across rivers and areas, where rainfall amounts over 8 inches (200 mm) caused rivers to swell and crest, including the Mississippi River and the Red River, with the latter river dealing with melting ice caps. The Grand River crested to a record level, prompting water rescues and evacuations in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A local state of emergency was declared for the city of Des Plaines, Illinois after the Des Plaines River swelled to 10.92 feet (3,330 mm). The governors of Illinois and Missouri declared state of emergencies, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared a federal emergency and a disaster declaration for 46 counties in Illinois. Five fatalities occurred: two each in Illinois and Indiana, with a fifth in Missouri. Three others were injured, all in Illinois.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.