Written by: Matt Bunk
Exactly which neighborhoods in south Bismarck are in danger of being overtaken by the flooding Missouri River? How many homes might be under water with the river rising to near record levels? Specifically, which sections of the city may have to be evacuated in case the flooding gets worse?
During an emergency meeting Monday evening, city and county leaders were unable to answer those questions as they said repeatedly that they “don’t know” or that they “will be getting answers to that.” More meetings to prepare for worst-case scenarios will take place in coming days.
“The major concern is what is Bismarck going to look like with a 17-foot flood,” said Jim Peluso, a Burleigh County Commission. “I don’t know how to go about that. I’m just kind of stumped.”
Local government officials were surprised by the announcement that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will increase releases from the Garrison Dam to about 75,000 cubic feet per second later this week. Until Monday, the city expected the river to rise to about 14 feet in the residential areas around Fox Island, rather than the 17 feet now projected.
“I can assure you, we are going to be working feverishly into the night and early tomorrow to come up with as strong a response as we are capable of doing,” Bismarck Mayor John Warford said after declaring a flood emergency that will give him expanded power to take actions to protect the public and their property.
State water officials said the flooding this year will probably be worse than in 2009, when ice jams caused the river to rise to about 16 feet. Due to excessive water runoff from Montana, the high-water problems could continue until early July.
Much of the excess water is flowing into Lake Sakakawea from the Yellowstone River in Montana, local officials said. Any additional rainfall in the northern Great Plains during the coming weeks may make matters worse.
Warford said he was told by the Corps of Engineers to “expect the worst.” City officials were informed about the dam releases at 3 p.m. They held a public meeting two hours later to outline their preparation strategy.
Prior to the warning from the Corps of Engineers, many homes in the non-incorporated county area near Fox Island were surrounded by water. Last week, residents near the river began stacking sandbags around their property, and heavy machinery was brought in to create dirt berms above the rising back channels of the river.
Warford said residents should be “responsible citizens” and assess the dangers individually while the city works to come up with a disaster plan that may include evacuating some areas of the city. He said the 2009 flood could be used as a baseline to determine which homes would be in the way of the flood.
“Right now, we are not asking anyone to leave their homes,” he said, noting that the city has a reverse 9-1-1 service and can begin calling residents if spot evacuation is necessary. Law enforcement officials also may be called into action to alert residents if the time comes to leave their homes, he said.
The city is planning to set up large flood barriers along parts of the river, similar to the ways Fargo has fought floods. Keith Demke, director of utility operations for the city, said it may be necessary to start pumping water east across Washington Street to keep the water from overtaking roadways. Sewer backups also are expected.
For now, though, officials are asking for volunteers to help with the sandbagging effort. Self-fill sandbags are available at Ash Coulee Water Tower, the parking lot for Cottonwood Complex on Santa Fe Avenue; and at the Missouri Valley Complex. The city may decide to establish a “sandbag central,” similar to the one set up in Fargo earlier this year and at the Bismarck Civic Center in 2009.
The city won’t be alone in its flood-fighting efforts; Warford said Gov. Jack Dalrymple has pledged the assistance of the North Dakota National Guard.
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