President Obama Declares North Dakota a Disaster Area

On Wednesday, March 25, 2009, President Barack Obama declared the entire state of North Dakota a federal disaster area due to the statewide flooding North Dakota has experienced this week.

Bismarck, North Dakota: Missouri River floods Fox Island area

Flood waters are rising in the Fox Island area in south Bismarck due to ice blockages backing up the Missouri River. According to Fox News, officials will use explosives to break up the massive ice jam to protect the state capital building in Bismarck from flooding. Some of these ice blocks are as big as cars and rock solid.

CBS News reports that as the Missouri River backs up into the Fox Island area in south Bismarck, thousands of people have been evacuated already. According to North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad, Bismarck is "the most urgent threat" in North Dakota because of the ice jams.

Fargo, North Dakota: Red River rises to 41 feet

According to CBS News, the Red River has risen to 41 feet, which is 23 feet above flood level, due to additional precipitation. North Dakota experienced an almost statewide blizzard yesterday, which dropped up to three feet of snow in some areas.

The blizzard warning has been extended until Thursday, with the flood warning still in place until further notice. Weekend forecasts show spring-like temperatures in the 50s, which will cause further rapid snow melt.

Fessenden, North Dakota: Snow melt causes in-town flooding

The town I grew up in, Fessenden, North Dakota, is experiencing flooding reminiscent of the 1997 flood I remember all too well. From the Fessenden Co-op Elevator to Highway 3, the flood waters are rising due to frozen culverts. According to a city alderman, the Fessenden park is under water, and the flood waters are stretching to lap at the front steps of the Catholic Church.

Wells County, North Dakota: Blizzard and ice Tuesday cause power outages

Because of heavy ice on the power lines, several lines around the Wells County area were knocked down to the ground Tuesday afternoon. Included in this power outage is the rural water plant, which sources water to the entire rural community in Wells County.

While Fessenden city residents only experienced a brief power outage in the middle of the night, there is a concern those basement sump pumps may have quit, causing basements to flood.

As of the time of publication, rural residents were still without water. According to Northern Plains Electric Cooperative, crews are working hard to restore power to the rural water plant.

Sources:

Fox News, CBS News