Showing posts with label Winnipeg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Winnipeg. Show all posts

Monday, April 20, 2009

Red River Valley of the North Flood, 2009

Posts about the Red River Valley of the North flood of 2009:
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Sunday, April 19, 2009

Red River Valley of the North Flood, 2009: April 19

It's been about 11 days since I posted about the big flood in the Red River Valley of the North, and surrounding areas. This post won't completely cover last week and a half, but I've been a little distracted lately, so this will have to do.
"Missing man feared dead in Red River flood"
Canada.com (April 19, 2009)

"Friends and neighbours of Walter Imbeck fear that the flooded Red River a short drive north of Winnipeg has claimed the widower, 68, as its first victim.

"No one has seen Imbeck since the evening of April 11 when he talked about trying to repair a damaged drain behind his riverbank home...."

There's a great deal more detail in the article. Mr. Imbeck's 68, and was normally a very neat person. Which made the vehicle he left in front of an open garage door stand out. At this point, law enforcement is treating him as a missing person.

The number of people killed in this flood will probably vary quite a bit, depending on who's doing the telling. This article puts the number at two, possibly three. The other two were an elderly couple.

That doesn't include the two deaths reported March 28, 2009, by KARE.

Since the flood involves parts of two states and a province, I suspect it'll take a while for people to compare notes on what all happened.

And, my sympathy and prayers for the people involved.
"Flood threat eases south of Winnipeg; residents hope for no rain"
The Canada Press (April 19, 2009)

"The flood situation south of Winnipeg stabilized on Sunday, but officials say they're still watching the skies and crossing their fingers.

" 'We're starting to crest all along the Red River Valley, which is good news,' said Steve Ashton, Manitoba's cabinet minister in charge of emergency measures.

" '(But) we are watching the rain. Certainly the forecast over the next period of days is something to watch very closely.'

"Forecasters expect little to no rain over southern Manitoba for the next few days, but say significant precipitation could hit the area by Thursday...."

Those Thursday rains, if they come, could at the least prolong the flooding. This has not been a particularly good year for the Red River Valley of the North so far - hardly a profound or penetrating observation.
"Red drops in city"
Winnipeg Sun (April 19, 2009)

"Red River's level is dropping in Winnipeg, but don't tell the Holiday Mountain ski resort that the flood threat is on a downward slope.

"The recreation complex, about 140 km southwest of Winnipeg, is on high alert while continuing to ward off a surge in the swollen Pembina River.

" 'It's not just the resort -- there are 23 homes on the site,' Bernice Later, co-owner of Holiday Mountain Resort, said yesterday. 'We're lucky. We haven't lost everything. That's all that matters.'..."

The Pembina broke the 1997 flood record.
"Manitoba minister warns against early return to homes"
CTV.ca (April 18, 2009)

"Manitoba's emergency measures minister warned residents against returning to their homes too quickly despite the fact that the Red River appears to have crested in Winnipeg.

"Minister Steve Ashton said Saturday that although the river is receding in the city, water levels could still rise due to significant water flow from tributary waterways...."

Seems to be good advice. As I wrote earlier, floods are notoriously untrustworthy, and have little to no regard for timetables or forecasts.
" 'Worst not over,' Manitoba tells those in flood zone"
CBC (April 18, 2009)

"The Red River has become a 750-square-kilometre lake forcing almost 2,000 people from their homes and the flood threat is far from over, Manitoba government officials said Saturday.

" 'This is not the beginning. It's certainly not the end. We're right in the middle of it,' said Steve Ashton, Manitoba's minister responsible for emergency measures.

"Water levels across southern Manitoba are declining extremely slowly, officials said, and there could be several crests on the Red River, currently swollen to 19 kilometres wide in some places.

"Nearly 2,000 southern Manitobans have been forced from their homes because of flooding...."

That's three railroad cars in the thumbnail - follow the link for CBC's full-size photo, in the article.

That 19 kilometers is almost twelve miles, for those who aren't all that familiar with metric measure. That's a whole lot of water.
"Manitoba seeing some of the highest water levels since American Civil War began"
The Canada Press (April 17, 2009)

"Water levels in sopping-wet Manitoba are now the second highest in the last century and a half, behind only the devastating flood of 1997, officials confirmed Friday.

"The levels have eclipsed marks set in 1979 and 1950 when there was massive flooding and evacuations. In fact, outside of 1997, you have to go all the way back to 1861 - when Canada wasn't even a country and the American Civil War had just broken out - to find water as high as it is now.

" 'Manitoba has a culture of flooding,' said senior provincial flood forecaster Alf Warkentin. 'We have a very rich history of flooding dating all the way back to 1776 when there was a very big flood ... This year is certainly in what you might call bad company with other floods....'..."

There's quite a bit of detail in the article, about how people and communities were coping with the flood. What struck me, though, was the historical perspective given. There's a tendency to forget, I think, that change happens - has happened - and probably will continue to happen.
"Winnipeg begins arresting residents for disobeying evacuation orders"
The Vancouver Sun (April 17, 2009)

"Rising flood waters forced Manitoba's capital into a state of emergency on Thursday, as police outside the city were forced to charge some frustrated residents with violating a mandatory evacuation order.

"By midday, the City of Winnipeg had declared a state of emergency for low-lying areas of the city, as rising flood waters crept closer to the tops of dikes protecting the Manitoba capital.

"Hours later, officials said it appeared the Red River had crested at 6.87 metres above winter ice levels — just 60 centimetres below the level of 1997's Flood of the Century...."

Sounds like that evacuation order was serious. And, a good idea. Water gets pretty cold, even this time of year, up here: and it's very inconsiderate to leave your body stuck in a tree.

Up in Winnipeg, this wasn't a record-breaker - and I'm sure they don't mind a bit.
"Limited flood emergency imposed"
Winnipeg Sun (April 17, 2009)

" Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz declared a state of emergency yesterday for certain areas of the city as a precautionary measure, even as the Red River crested and levels started to drop.

"The state of emergency applies to all properties on the river side of the city's primary dike.

"Katz said the declaration gives the city authority to, among other things, force people to evacuate their homes...."

The article has quite a bit of detail: including a reminder to stay clear of the dikes, unless you're building, maintaining, inspecting, or repairing them. Kids, naturally enough, had been getting closer to the flooding river than was deemed safe by adults.
"UPDATE 2-Canada's Red River crests early in Winnipeg"
Reuters (April 16, 2009)

"The Red River has hit its highest level in the Canadian Prairie city of Winnipeg two days earlier than expected and should now begin to decline, government officials said on Thursday.

"The Red rose one foot (0.3 metres) overnight to its crest of 22.5 feet (6.9 metres) because of heavy ice moving in from the Assiniboine River, which meets the Red in the city's downtown. The Assiniboine has now also crested.

"The Assiniboine's ice floes moved earlier than expected, heading off a slightly higher crest that had been forecast for Saturday. The Red River is expected to crest during the weekend in the valley south and upstream of Winnipeg, where the river is in places as wide as 10 miles (16 km), dotted by towns kept dry with ring dikes...."

One thing seems constant with things like floods: they're notoriously disrespectful toward schedules and timetables.
"Clay, sandbags added to dam protecting ND town"
The Associated Press (April 16, 2009)

"KATHRYN, N.D. (AP) — A convoy of trucks, excavators, bulldozers and backhoes moved in to fortify a seeping dam Thursday in eastern North Dakota as engineers and National Guard troops worked to save a tiny town that would flood if the dam fails.

"Water was flowing like a miniature waterfall around a corner of the earthen Clausen Springs Dam, which protects the town of Kathryn, downhill and about six miles east. The water was eating through walls of the grass-lined spillway built to handle the extra water volume along a tributary of the flooding Sheyenne River...."

Kathryn, North Dakota, is roughly halfway from Fargo to Jamestown, North Dakota. It's not in the Red River Valley of the North: and serves as a reminder that there's flooding in quite a few places in this general area.
Flood-related posts: List of posts about this flood:
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Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Red River Valley of the North Flood, 2009: April 8: News Added As I find It

3:15 p.m.
"Flood crew psyched for Red River's crest"
(April 5, 2009)

"24/7 watch to be implemented Monday"

"The looming crest of the Red River has kicked the flood fight into high gear, as crews prepare to monitor river and ice levels around the clock and emergency equipment to break up ice jams is moved into place...."

This is news from last Sunday, so that 24/7 watch is into its third day now.

It's good to see that Winnipeg authorities are aware of the situation, and doing something about it.
3:10 p.m. Central
"Winnipeg on alert for early flood crest driven by ice jams"
CBC News (April 8, 2009) (2 hours ago)

"The first and highest crest of the Red River could arrive in Winnipeg on Wednesday, forced up by ice jams.

"Flood forecasters are predicting the crest could be around 2006 levels, which would cause some damage but not be as dire as in 1997. Not counting the impact on homes, the 2006 flood caused $12 million damage.

"'You know, this is a major flood. And you know, if we are better prepared for it and we have more limited damage than in the past, it is still a major flood,' said Steve Ashton, the province's emergency measures minister...."

I certainly hope that everyone in Manitoba has their ducks in a row: and sandbags in place.

Which reminds me: the National Guard in the Fargo-Moorhead area was using one-ton sandbags - I gotta go back and get my notes and sources for that.
3:00 p.m. Central
"Red River floods major Winnipeg route"
UPI (April 7, 2009) (19 hours ago)

"Sections of Highway 75, a major artery between Winnipeg, Canada, and the U.S. border, were closed Tuesday to prepare for flooding by the Red River.

"Business people told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. the action by Manitoba provincial officials would have a significant financial impact on the region.

" 'It will be very quiet around here,' said Lisa Wiebe, who works at a Morris-area store. 'About 80 to 85 percent of our customers are the truck drivers going to and from the states into Winnipeg. If they close the highway, they will be routed around us, and we will kind of be like a ghost town out here...."

That's a problem with floods: even in a town isn't flooded, businesses can be hurt because customers can't get to them: and that hurts business owners and employees.
2:45 p.m. Central
"Fargo sandbagging again as flood threat looms"
CNN (April 8, 2009) (4 hours ago)

"In anticipation of more flooding next week, residents of Fargo, North Dakota, began stacking sandbags Wednesday for the second time in just over two weeks along the banks of the Red River.

"They hoped to fill 1 million, said Fargo spokeswoman Karena Lunday.

" 'If we get a million, that will be a total of 4 million we've made since the flood started,' she said.

"The first sandbag effort began about March 23. The Red River crested at nearly 41 feet at Fargo on March 28, breaking a record that had held since 1897, when the Red River reached 40.1 feet.

"The National Weather Service issued a flood warning Tuesday, predicting that melting snow -- and possibly rain -- will start to raise river levels on the Red River south of Oslo, Minnesota, this week...."

'Here we go again.' This isn't at all unexpected - but it's not exactly good news. On the other hand, Fargo and other communities still have the temporary dikes up from the first crest.
2:40 p.m. Central

It's been a few days since I updated this series of posts. I've been working on taxes (April 15 is a memorable date for American citizens), and dealing with some technical issues on my main computer.
Flood-related posts: List of posts about this flood:
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Saturday, April 4, 2009

Red River Valley of the North Flood, 2009: April 4: News Added As I find It

6:15 p.m. Central
"Officials may activate floodway despite inlet ice pack"
Winnipeg Sun (April 4, 2009) (14 hours ago)

"Extraordinary situations call for extraordinary measures.

"The provincial government is taking that idea to its plan for the Red River Floodway, as floodwater surges higher and threatens about 190 homes in Winnipeg, with the crest to arrive in the city possibly within six days.

"Though the floodway is not normally used to send the Red's water around Winnipeg while ice is packed around the diversion's inlet, the government said yesterday that 'unprecedented' conditions -- including possible ice jams threatening to back up water quickly -- could prompt operators to flip its switch earlier.

" 'Operations of the floodway to natural water levels would provide a benefit within six hours by 1.4 feet,' Steve Topping of the Water Stewardship Department told reporters at the legislature. 'Further operation, if warranted, would be considered should the flood risk still be imminent.'..."

I've seen the Winnipeg floodway: it's an impressive piece of engineering. I've also seen floods in the Red River Valley of the North. They're impressive, too. I sincerely hope that Winnipeg's system can handle what's coming its way.

"Fargo waters snake north to the ice of Winnipeg"
Globe and Mail (April 4, 2009) (16 hours ago)

"North Dakota surge expected Wednesday in Manitoba capital where the Red River Floodway may be opened before ice has melted"

"WINNIPEG -- When the irresistible force of a record Red River crest in the south meets the immovable object of unprecedented ice jams in the north, southern Manitoba is bound to get wet.

"That's just the scenario unfolding along the banks of the Red this spring, as a bulge of water from the Fargo, N.D., flood snakes toward stubborn dams of ice north of Winnipeg.

"The collision is so worrisome that provincial officials said yesterday that they were considering the unusual step of opening the Red River Floodway before river ice has fully melted...."

I get the uncomfortable feeling that Winnipeg's floodway was designed around the idea that the Red River of the North would have the decency to delay floodwaters until the ice had melted around Winnipeg.

That's not the way it works, generally. Since the Red River of the North flows north, the south end of its watershed generally warms up first: sending waters into the Red. A flood crest can get refreshed as it moves north.
6:10 p.m. Central
"Hundreds of Manitobans work to fill sandbags to deal with floodwaters"
The Canadian Press (April 4, 2009) (21 minutes ago)

"...Flood forecasters predict the Red River will crest in Winnipeg by Thursday.

"To date, more than 500,000 sandbags have been produced...."

Let's hope they make - and place - enough, in time.
6:05 p.m. Central
"National Guard is welcome sight in ND flood fight"
The Associated Press (April 4, 2009) (5 hours ago)

"FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Staff Sgt. Matthew Mitzel has patrolled the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Iraq, and now he's patrolled the Red River in Fargo.

" 'I'll take Fargo any day,' said Mitzel, a North Dakota National Guard member and veteran of two tours in Iraq now leading a quick-response rescue team in flood-soaked Fargo...."

"...The North Dakota guard deployed a total of about 2,000 soldiers to Fargo and surrounding areas to help with the flood fight. Minnesota sent 650 of its National Guard members to the Moorhead area, and several other Upper Midwest states pitched in with 400 more...."

It's a pretty good writeup on how the National Guard helped out in Fargo-Moorhead.
4:55 p.m. Central
"Govs call for Red River flood control"
UPI (April 3, 2009) (18 hours ago)

"FARGO, N.D., April 3 (UPI) -- The governors of Minnesota and North Dakota Friday called for long-term flood control for the Red River as forecasters predicted a new record crest this month.

"John Hoeven of North Dakota and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota held a joint news conference in Fargo, N.D., to call for regional cooperation and federal aid, Minnesota Public Radio reported...."

Winnipeg, Manitoba, had some big flood diversion channels dug, decades back. I haven't heard what that's done to towns downstream of the city, but it's helped Winnipeg. I ran into a discussion a few days ago (can't find it now - but it's likely to be in one of the news items I've linked to) - where a diversion around Fargo was discussed. The local fellow said, essentially, that it might help Fargo, but might have a bad effect on people living downstream.

We'll see what comes of this governor-level talk. Whatever is done: I hope that someone with engineering skills and a good computer is involved.
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