Preparation for the Flood
February 11th, 2009 started out like any other winter day in Fargo North Dakota, but little did the community know that the worst flood ever to hit the city was just around the corner. The National Weather Service forecast a crest of the Red River in the middle of March at 32 feet. A flood of this magnitude is not that big of a concern for the area as the crest would fall well below the height of the permanent dikes already in place throughout the city. Approximately 1 month later the crest prediction was raised to 34 feet. Once again things started to thaw and the weather would not let up so the crest is jumped up to 36 - 37 feet. On March 18th the updated crest is raised to 37 - 40 feet. This prediction compelled city officials to start preparation for the likely hood of a major flood. Mayor Walaker calls for volunteers to fill 1 million sandbags within a week. To keep up with demands for sandbags Fargo opens "Sandbag Central" and the Fargodome on March 21st so that sandbags can be filled indoors and be kept from freezing. The Mayor also issues a recommendation for business to close or release employees to help fill these sandbags. On March 25th the National Weather Service predicts a new crest of 39 - 41 feet, the city responds and says 2 million more sandbags will be needed. Collage campuses and high schools in the area release students to help with the sandbagging efforts. The next day the National Weather Service once again raises the crest to 41 - 43 feet. Mayor Walaker calls for a voluntary evacuation of areas that are most vulnerable.
As the crest predictions rose higher and higher Mayor Walaker had to stay on top of the situation and direct the preparations to where they were needed most. He played a vital role in making sure the city would survive whatever the mighty Red River would throw at the city. Our nations president even recognized the dire situation that the Mayor was facing and placed a call to him to make sure that all of the resources the Fargo area needed were made available.
As the crest predictions rose higher and higher Mayor Walaker had to stay on top of the situation and direct the preparations to where they were needed most. He played a vital role in making sure the city would survive whatever the mighty Red River would throw at the city. Our nations president even recognized the dire situation that the Mayor was facing and placed a call to him to make sure that all of the resources the Fargo area needed were made available.
