May 19, 2013
ND town threatened by rising river makes evacuation plans
VALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP) - Flooded tracks east of Minot, N.D., has prompted Amtrak to suspend service between Minot and St. Paul, Minn.
An Amtrak spokesman says communities in the two states will be affected for at least 24 hours.
Faced with the threat of a major flood, the mayor of Valley
City, N.D., is calling for the evacuation of sick and elderly
residents, as well as those living in low-lying areas. Altogether,
that's nearly half Valley City's population of 7,000. Mayor Mary
Lee Nielson is advising them to leave their homes by tomorrow
evening to help keep emergency routes free of traffic. Hundreds of
National Guard members have been called in to help
The Sheyenne River is headed to a crest of around 22 feet in the next couple of days, according to the National Weather Service. Emergency crews are working to hold it back.
The river empties into the Red River, which is expected to reach a second flood crest of its own near Fargo this week.
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