Beautiful sunny winter day trying to become beautiful spring day. 7F this morning, which meant the river receded a bit after a crest yesterday of 40.88'. Because of the cold, the melt slows and whatever rain we had was frozen under the snow which meant no run off to enter the system. It was almost a normal day, except nothing is open, well almost nothing. Tractor Supply Company was open, where I bought some mud boots and a nice bright yellow safety vest.
CNN this morning still doesn't have its facts right. And basically is predicting we're all gonna die. Don't misread me here... this is still a real perilous situation. But, there was a news conference this morning they didn't cover, instead went live talking about the train trestle over the Red downtown. Yes, there is a real concern about that particular train trestle. We are getting a lot of coverage from the national press and we are great-ful for it. But it would be nice if they would maybe talk with some of the guys on the street to get their facts right. LOL It also seems the mornings bring fear, the afternoons are full of hope and nighttime is burdened with uncertainty. I certainly feel for those who have to operate the pumps all night.
MSUM classes have been officially cancelled until April 6th. Our spring break is now another week. This is not good. How do we get started again after a three week hiatus?
This morning I walked along the bottom of the Fargo dike south of Main Ave to Lindenwood Park. As you will notice it looks like a war zone. Took close to 300 photos of which I think there are 80 here. I met a number of National Guard folks who are here helping patrol the dike... some of their photos are here. Even met some Good Fargo Police guys who reminded me not to go on the dike. And I didn't. But I did buy a YELLOW SAFETY vest which allowed me access to places where the everyday common guy can't go. I guess only official people wear those silly looking vests. Why would a normal person wear one? Only if a good FPD asked me who I was "with" did I tell them, just me taking pictures. To which they said not to climb on the dike.
Today was like the calm before the storm. It is so quiet. In all my years here in the great white north, I have never sensed it being so calm and quiet, very errie. Of course I am down town with a dike built by the Corps of Engineers, who have a little better background than the neighbor who put up your backyard levee. What breaks the quiet is the incredible number of helicopters flying up and down the river, Military Blackhawks, news, Police, Medical, all sorts. A bright sunny quiet day. But things do get interesting this evening.
As you go through the images, halfway through the 2nd page, you'll notice a bunch of photos of trucks. These are right after the picture of my apartment building (we live in the top left w/ balcony). Around 6:30 p.m. there was this huge commotion outside. I grabbed the camera and proceeded to go to the top of the parking garage near the dike for a view. I can't believe the number of dump trucks out on Main Ave. The entire area is soon shut down and the only traffic are these huge dump trucks loaded with clay, transporting it to the dike. Very strange activity ... They are still going at it outside... it is 9:30 p.m. ... I can hear the trucks and there are two or three helicopters flying around this part of the dike. One of the MPs directing traffic told me the dike (the temporary one, not the permanent levee) started to shift. So they are shoring it up. No how is that for peace of mind tonight? There is a turn on the river at this point and I imagine the amount of water the dike is holding back is placing quite a strain on the system all up and down both sides of the river. Hmmmm... guess I'll move my cars out of the garage again.....
more tomorrow...
Mike Page 1 | Page 2
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