Minnesota Guard will help the fight

Last update: March 23, 2009 - 10:22 PM

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty indicated Monday that more than 400 Minnesota National Guard troops could be activated by Wednesday for flood duty in the Red River Valley.

The troops will direct traffic, monitor dikes and handle other security tasks as the flood crest moves north from Breckenridge in the coming days.

Pawlenty met with officials in Breckenridge, where the Otter Tail and Bois de Sioux rivers meet to form the north-flowing Red. He said it appears likely that the high water will lead to a federal disaster declaration, which would free up federal grants and loans for recovery.

But federal stimulus money could also be used for homeowner assistance, road repairs and other support, he said, adding, "We want to make sure we respond as aggressively as possible."

Moorhead needs more volunteers

Moorhead is looking for volunteers to help with sandbagging. People who want to help can call the First Link at 701-476-4000. Volunteers can also show up all week between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. at Nemzek Hall on the Minnesota State University, Moorhead, campus. Nemzek Hall is located on 17th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues S.

Volunteers should bring a photo ID.

A wall of life

A portable wall system that shielded troops in Iraq and Afghanistan from bullets is being used to hold back floodwaters from the Red River.

"I think it's going to be a lifesaver," said Al Weigel, director of operations in Fargo, N.D., as volunteers worked to help protect the city from what's predicted to be record flooding.

The portable wall system is made up of 3- and 4-foot-high interlocking containers with heavy steel frames covered by high-tech material. It took workers just half an hour Monday to set up about 1,000 feet of the containers.

Scenes from Fargo (not the movie)

The water hasn't crested yet in Fargo, but signs of flooding were everywhere Monday evening.

• A flashing highway sign on the road outside the Fargodome gave drivers an understated headline: "Water on road."

• At the U.S. Post Office, two clerks took a break between customers to worry about the low spots in town. "I don't see how they're going to help there," said one to the other.

• A sign at the West Acres mall flashed a phone number for volunteers to call to help. For sandbagging efforts, it gave a simple instruction: "Report to Fargo Dome."

These boots are made for floodin'

In Alexandria, Minn., which was experiencing its own flood concerns, a stock clerk at Mill's Fleet Farm pushed a grocery cart full of flood boots down the work shoe aisle to replenish the shelves.

"It's getting hard to keep up," she said.

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