Today, another inch or so of snow fell in these parts today, and more snow is predicted to be on the way in the next couple of weeks, after one of the snowiest winters on record.
Everywhere across Minnesota, papers report about the probable threat of spring flooding. The Mankato Free Press reports in Firefighters train for flood work:
. . .Every major river in the state is at risk of surpassing flood stage. Locally, the Minnesota River at Henderson has a nearly 50 percent chance of exceeding the river’s record crest from last fall while the river in New Ulm and Mankato has a better than 90-percent chance of exceeding flood stage, according to the National Weather Service. . . .
Cities and counties from Owatonna to Brown County to Houston County discuss buying sandbags. The Fargo Forum cautions pet owners to have a plan for their pets in case of flooding.
On Facebook, a friend active in student government at the University of Minnesota posts his status as going to Moorhead to build an ark, putting an entirely new spin on the old, divine instructions to shipbuild with gopherwood. Moorhead had called for volunteers to fill 1 million sandbags.
Montevideo is predicted to be one of the hardest hit cities in the state, so it's no wonder that over 200 people packed the Montevideo American Legion when Governor Dayton traveled to the Minnesota River Valley town. the West Central Tribune reports in Flood preparation taking shape in western Minn:
Amid warnings to prepare for major flooding, more than 200 people on Friday filled the American Legion Club in Montevideo to hear Gov. Mark Dayton and public safety officials say they are ready to do all they can to help.
“We’re ready to respond to whatever occurs,” Dayton said.
The governor said the state is preparing for widespread flooding.
Adjutant General Rick Nash of the Minnesota National Guard said roughly three battalions and ample supplies of heavy equipment are ready to respond to flooding needs in the Red, Minnesota, Mississippi and St. Croix river basins.
The National Weather Service is “absolutely sure” that major flooding will be experienced in the upper Minnesota River Valley, according to Dan Luna, director of the Chanhassen office.
Luna said the most recent flood forecast projects a 90 percent probability of reaching last year’s flood levels in the Montevideo area, and a 30 percent probability for exceeding 2001 levels.
Staffers in the Walz and Franken offices tell me that "everything is flood preparation now," as one source put it.
The details are shaping up. The Tribune article noted:
Area communities and counties are already actively preparing for what’s coming. Montevideo has plans to erect a clay dike to raise the U.S. Highway 212 levee and the 1969 levee to meet the expected flood levels, according to Steve Jones, city manager.
Communities along tributaries to the Minnesota River are likewise preparing. On Hawk Creek, both Maynard and Clara City have plans to begin filling sandbags in anticipation of flooding. Mayor Richard Groothuis of Maynard noted that last year’s flooding on Hawk Creek saw waters cover the 125-year-old city cemetery, the first time that occurred.
State Reps. Lyle Koenen, DFL-Clara City, and Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, said there have already been discussions in the Legislature about reserving state funds for both flood mitigation and recovery needs after the flooding.
In a phone interview in late February, Congressman Walz assured me that FEMA's plans would not be affected by a shutdown of the federal government.
Here's hoping that Koenen and Swedzinski are right about the state legislature using foresight in funding flood mitigation and recovery efforts. From the sounds of the reports, Montvideo and other cities along the state's many rivers will need all sides to come together in the looming emergency.
Photo: Past ice jam on the Little Minnesota River. Photo via MNDOT.
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