Flooding in Fargo eases but winter storm moves in
By CARSON WALKER and NATE JENKINS, Associated Press Writers – 49 mins ago
FARGO, N.D. – Weary residents welcomed the Red River's further retreat Monday but faced an approaching snowstorm expected to kick up wind-whipped waves that could threaten the sandbag levees they built to protect their city from a major flood.
Engineers weren't worried about the storm's snow because it's unlikely to melt soon. They were concerned, however, that waves crashing against the dikes could weaken them.
The higher the wind speed, the higher the threat, said Jeff DeZellar, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
"The forecast that we saw was 25 mph or more, and certainly that's enough wind to create some wave action on the river," he said Monday.
National Guard members places sheets of plastic over the levees to help them hold up against high waves. "It's important to get as much work done as we can before the storm comes," DeZellar said.
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