">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Ice-jammed floodwaters, blizzard swamp N. Dakota
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Search
Search:
Ice-jammed floodwaters, blizzard swamp N. Dakota
AFP - Thursday, March 26
FARGO, North Dakota9 (AFP) - - A heavy blizzard dumped wet snow on volunteers as they rushed to build dikes against rising flood waters in North Dakota, as officials used explosives to try break up ice jams on swelling rivers.
ADVERTISEMENT
President Barack Obama issued a federal disaster declaration for 34 counties and two Indian reservations as the entire state remained under a major flood warning.
The storm's blustering winds knocked out power to towns across the largely rural prairie state and made many roads impassable as it dumped snow and freezing rain, officials said.
Several bridges and roads were already closed due to flooding as an unusually heavy snowpack began to melt on top of saturated land that has not yet fully thawed.
"The state has turned into a fishing pond and can't absorb any more snow or rain," said Patrick Slattery of the National Weather Service.
More snow was forecast to fall on the Red River valley in the coming days and rain could worsen flood conditions by the weekend, the weather service predicted.
Low-lying homes across the state were evacuated as rivers and creeks spilled over their banks, although damage was largely restricted to water in basements. No injuries were reported in a situation report issued at 7:30 pm (0130 GMT Thursday).
About 20 people from homes south of Fargo were evacuated with airboats that sluiced through ice-covered floodwaters after sandbag dikes began to leak.
"Frankly I do expect more (evacuations) over the next 24 hours," said Dave Rogness, the Cass County emergency manager.
A farmer stranded on his tractor and several families whose rural homes were surrounded by floodwaters were also rescued across the state. Officials also evacuated 146 inmates from a jail in the state capital of Bismark, where the Missouri river was rising quickly as a result of a massive ice jam that stretched all the way to the border with South Dakota.
The governor called in military specialists to try break up the ice jam with explosives after fragments of ice as big as four feet (1.2 meters) thick and other debris got stuck on a sandbar.
Blackhawk helicopters were to be used to dump sand and salt down river of the ice jam to help get the water flowing again and reduce flood pressure on the city. Officials warned they may not know if the operation was successful until Thursday.
Heavy snowfall prompted thousands of volunteers in Fargo to reinforce temporary dikes and levees after the projected crest of the mighty Red River was raised to a record 41 feet (12.5 meters) by Saturday.
"It kind of scares you a little bit when they do that," Stephen Garrity said of the rising projections as he scrambled to add sandbags to dikes around his home.
The river, which is normally only about 98 feet (30 meters) wide, was rising about an inch (2.5 centimeters) an hour, yawning to swallow trees along its banks -- it appeared to be some 2,952 feet (900 meters) wide.
A sandbag dike stretched for miles along the edge of the floodwaters.
Snowplows cleared streets for trucks delivering sandbags to neighborhoods along the river, where volunteers from as far away as Iowa and Montana mingled with high school and college students whose classes were cancelled.
Hundreds of volunteers passed along sandbag after sandbag, some standing on pieces of wood to protect against the deep mud under the trampled snow.
"All the national media stories are, 'Oh, they need help.' So here we are," said Rick Spohnholtz of Newark, Illinois, who arrived with his 13-year-old son Ricky on Wednesday morning.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: World
Saudi Arabia: Senior al-Qaida leader surrendersAP - Friday, March 27
Vigil held for suspected Oakland cop killerAP - Friday, March 27
Iran to attend meeting on AfghanistanReuters - Friday, March 27
14 killed in Russian bus-truck collisionAP - Friday, March 27
Crystal Cathedral: OMG! Poser tweets as SchullerAP - Friday, March 27
Enlarge Photo
Kurt Benedict loads sandbags which will be used building a levee in the Harwood Groves neighborhood onto a pallet in Fargo, North Dakota. A heavy blizzard dumped wet snow on volunteers rushing to build dikes against rising flood waters in North Dakota Wednesday as officials used explosives to try to break up ice jams on swelling rivers.
Most Popular – World
Viewed
Red meat raises death risk, white meat lowers it
Scientists see asteroid hurtle to Earth
British PM brushes off Chinese currency calls
Papaua New Guinea forests reveal 56 new species
Snacking during labour is OK, study finds
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Thursday, 26 March 2009 U.S. urges Iran to give access to jailed journalist
| International
|
U.N. urged to reject bar on defamation of religion
| International
|
Nintendo Wii shipments top 50 million since launch
| Technology
|
Former 3-D hobbyist captains Monsters vs. Aliens
| Entertainment
|
Kelly Clarkson, U2 lead U.S. album charts
| Entertainment
|
New York museum opens exhibit on credit crisis
| Entertainment
|
Jeremy Piven Broadway exit heads to arbitration
| Entertainment
|
So true: Spandau Ballet reform, announce tour
| Entertainment
|
Child star turned driver recalls own Slumdog past
| Entertainment
|
Violinist Bell: Yankee Doodle for Obamas was dandy
| Entertainment
|
Netanyahu pledges to pursue peace with Palestinians
NATO needs better Afghan coordination, Obama says
| International
|
North Korea readies missile, U.S. warns
| International
|
Israeli archaeologists find ancient bathhouse
Suspected U.S. drone kills four in northwest Pakistan
| International
|
Netanyahu: Israel is Palestinians' peace partner
Scientists see asteroid hurtle to Earth
US: Attacks rise south of Baghdad, fall nationwide
Taliban attacks get help from Pakistan: report
| International
|
UN chief wants 'substantial' stimulus at G20
Israel marks 30 years of peace with Egypt
U.N. atomic agency votes for new chief in risky world
| International
|
Clinton arrives in Mexico with US mea culpa on drug wars
Suspected US strike kills seven in Pakistan: officials
14 die in Russian bus accident: ministry
| International
|
Papaua New Guinea forests reveal 56 new species
Sudan's Bashir visits Egypt despite ICC warrant
Hamas says resumes prisoner swap talks with Israel
| International
|
US to unveil stronger rules against fraud: Geithner
Fidel Castro says brother did not fire old rebels
| International
|
AP IMPACT: It's fear that keeps Baghdad's peace
British PM brushes off Chinese currency calls
Young Indians say no thanks to American dream
| International
|
Rights group slams Israel use of white phosphorous
Danish prince celebrates new Colo. wind plants
Twitter to seek revenue from businesses
| Technology
|
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,261
Last.fm to start charging some music users
Iran official on Iraq visit downplays US overture
Bill introduced to help ailing newspaper industry
Obama says NATO needs better Afghan coordination
Netflix links online DVD service to Facebook
Thirsty plants can Twitter for water with new device
| Technology
|
British pupils to get lessons on Twitter: report
Senate calls for Brazil to return boy to dad in NJ
Japan plans robo-nurses in five years: govt
Russian, Turkmen leaders vow work on energy deal
Nokia invests in mobile money firm Obopay
Clinton heads to Mexico armed with drug wars plan
EU parliament agrees to stop Le Pen
Baghdad envoy nominee optimistic on Iraqi security
UK must pry on data to block threats: ex-spy boss
Russian city mayor slain in office: official
Pro-Russia protest against US frigate in Sevastopol
Le Pen sparks Holocaust row at EU parliament
'Crucifix' killing in French pilgrimage town
Czech crisis has no impact on EU presidency: PM
Obama news conference slips in Nielsen ratings
| Entertainment
|
Rudd: Australia in Afghanistan for 'long haul'
U.S. says North Korea missile on launch pad
HBO serves up saccharine mush in Ladies Agency
| Entertainment
|
Dalai Lama envoy says China lying to Obama
NKorea places long-range missile on launch pad: US
NKorea believed to have placed missile on launch pad: Kyodo
Head of order started by Mother Teresa steps down
Jeremy Piven Broadway exit heads to arbitration
Malaysian PM's son-in-law to head party youth wing
China court accepts first milk scandal lawsuit: state media
Hanks set for new Hollywood toy story
S.Korea vice fin min says FX liquidity has improved
US official in rare talks with Myanmar regime
Seoul shares fall; N.Korea news, banks weigh
Japan, Ukraine PMs hail carbon deal
NZ current account deficit widens in Q4
Ariane chief decries China for satellite launch
IBM to shift 'large number' of US jobs to India
Singer Crespo accused of masturbating on plane
EU proposes extending duties on Chinese candles
Danger zone for `Grey's Anatomy' doctor
Nigeria 'politics behind scrapped Korea oil deal'
Penn lining up 'Three Stooges'
PetroChina profit falls 22 percent in 2008
Actress who played Winnie Cooper marries composer
British PM brushes off Chinese call to replace dollar
Hitler art to go on sale in Britain
China's ICBC says 2008 profit up 35.2 percent
U2 fills Barcelona stadium in just 54 minutes
List of cable TV's top 15 shows in Nielsen ratings
Former 3-D hobbyist captains "Monsters vs. Aliens"
Bali prepares for 'Nyepi' public holiday
New York museum opens exhibit on credit crisis
Child star turned driver recalls own "Slumdog" past
Iran to attend meeting on Afghanistan
Parents of imprisoned journalist plan Iran trip
UN says little progress made on key Gaza issues
Goods reappear in Zimbabwe shops
EU presidency blasts US recovery plans
Obama budget on the march through Congress
Climate speeds Japan's cherry blossom season
Envoy choice would shed his three stars in Kabul
Ice-jammed floodwaters, blizzard swamp N. Dakota
U.S. to blame for much of Mexican drug violence
Hope rising in US for national death penalty ban
Clinton: NKorea plan to fire missile 'provocative'
Thirsty plants can Twitter for water with new device
France 'Gallic Moan' proves answer to hard times
Last edition of Christian Science Monitor
Twitter to seek revenue from businesses
OnLive to stream videogames as online service
14 killed in Russian bus accident
Nintendo Wii shipments top 50 million since launch
Taiwan's Chen claims persecution as trial begins
China best-seller lashes "Mafia don" America
Australia defense dept probes illegal spying claim
Piven's Broadway exit heads to arbitration
China court upholds convictions in milk scandal
China upholds 2 tainted milk scandal convictions
Officials: Suicide attack kills 11 in NW Pakistan
Australia investigates spy agency over defence probe
China shares rebound on export rebate plan
Protesters in Thailand surround government seat
Taiwan dollar up in face of U.S. dollar weakness
Japan prepares crisis steps for NKorea missile
People of Athens fight for green space
Former AIG chief Greenberg criticizes bonuses
Adam Lambert hit all the right notes on `Idol'
Feuding villages' clash leaves 1 dead in China
Toyota to sell old Prius in hot hybrid battle
Former treasury secretary writing about meltdown
S.Korean won up 2.5 pct to hit 11-wk closing high
Obama news conference slips in Nielsen ratings
Unrest looms in Asia-Pacific amid financial crisis
Blacks 'hurting worse' in grim US economy: report
Chinese students head home to find jobs: report
US ballpark to sell 4,800-calorie burger
Asia to drive mobile broadband Internet access
EMI Music signs with Project Playlist
4 appeal sentences in China's tainted milk scandal
3 cops injured in shootout at Luciano's home
S.Korea to offer tax incentives to new car buyers
Mabius just not that into 'Ugly Betty' pairing
Piven's Broadway exit heads to arbitration
Bali shuts down for Day of Silence
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights