Flooding Threatens Another ND Town

Earthmoving equipment and National Guard helicopters hauled sand today to reinforce leaky dikes that prompted evacuations in Valley City, a town threatened by the Sheyenne River, the latest North Dakota stream to rise above its banks. The Sheyenne was headed for a crest at around 22 feet in the next couple of days in Valley City, 2 feet higher than the record set in 1882.

The Sheyenne empties into the Red River, expected to reach a second flood crest of its own near Fargo this week. The crest there last month was just short of 41 feet. In the meantime, Fargo is sending some of its sandbags to Valley City, about 60 miles away, and to the Sheyenne River town of Lisbon, Fargo’s mayor said. “I think Valley City's got the true test,” he continued. (More natural disaster stories.)