Flood — Cass, North Dakota

2006-04-01 to 2006-04-19 · near Countywide, Cass, North Dakota

Event narrative

The Red River at Fargo/Moorhead rose above flood stage around 1 AM CST on March 30th and remained above flood stage until around 7 PM CST on April 19th. The river peaked at roughly 37.18 feet around 2 AM CST on April 5th. Unofficially, 37.18 feet would be the fifth highest modern-day river stage recorded. The third highest modern-day river stage of 891.35 feet MSL (unofficial) was recorded on the Sheyenne River at Harwood on April 3rd and the seventh highest was recorded at the West Fargo Diversion on April 3rd. Overland flooding also occurred in addition to the river flooding, with over 40 roads around the county closed due to flooding. One lane of southbound Interstate 29 was closed south of Horace due to high water. Flooding was extensive along the Wild Rice River south of Fargo, where 75 homes were threatened from Oxbow up to the southern edge of Fargo. No permanent flood protection existed along the south side of Fargo, as alternatives were still being debated. At the Interstate 29 Oxbow exit, water surrounded all sides of the interstate. In Oxbow, river water moved a deck, which ruptured a gas line and started a fire. Firefighters were able to put out the fire before it caused much damage. West of Fargo, the most problems occurred near the confluence of the Maple and Sheyenne Rivers. Several homes in that area were completely surrounded by water. The Maple River Golf Course, along the Maple River, reported the most water they had ever seen. In the city of Fargo itself, the typical low spots were quickly flooded. These spots included Elm Street, the 12th Avenue North Red River toll bridge, and along 2nd Street downtown. A temporary clay dike was built along 2nd Street North to protect a portion of the downtown area, including city hall. Temporary clay dikes were also built to protect the Rose Creek clubhouse and a nearby church. High school and college students helped to sandbag, as many schools gave them the option of attending school or helping out. Classes at Oak Grove were cancelled April 6th and 7th. The body of a homeless man was also found in the Red River north of Main Avenue on April 7th. To the north of Fargo, water backed up around Harwood, covering Interstate 29. The Interstate did stay open with red cones marking the way, but drivers had to slow way down. The Red River bridge from Gardner (ND) to Perley (MN) was closed due to flooding. After the spring flood of 1997, many communities along the Red River looked at ways to mitigate flood effects. For the Fargo area, many homes were bought out in low-lying or flood-prone areas. Some sections of permanent dikes were built in portions of the city. Although built prior to the 1997 flood, the Sheyenne River Diversion around the city of West Fargo resulted in little impact to that city. Problems were mitigated in the Oak Grove area due to the construction of a flood wall. Cass County received a Presidential Disaster Declaration for damages caused by spring flooding.In summary, the total public and private flood losses experienced within the Red River of the North basin through late March and April 2006 were likely in excess of $20 million. This includes the following amounts. For Minnesota state and local infrastructure (this total includes the damages listed for each county), $8.5 million. For North Dakota state and local infrastructure (this total includes the damages listed for each county), $8 million. For Federal agencies (USACE, USGS, and USCG), $1.5 million. For the transportation industry costs due to traffic diversions caused by prolonged road and bridge closures, $1.5 million. For personal property losses due to floodwaters surrounding more than 500 individual farmsteads and rural homesteads, $1.0 million.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5502369. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.