03-24-2009

Red River Cresting

The Red River in Wahpeton and neighboring Breckenridge, Minn., is expected to crest at a lower level than earlier forecast.

The Red is now expected to crest Tuesday evening at 19 feet - about a foot lower than initially thought.

Flood stage in the two cities is 10 feet. The record is 19.4 feet set in the flood of 1997.

National Guard soldiers from North Dakota and Minnesota, along with street department workers and fire departments, have been patrolling the dikes protecting Wahpeton-Breckenridge. The dikes can withstand water levels of 21 to 23 feet.

No sandbagging is going on right now. More than 2 inches of rain fell Monday, causing street floodi