Moorhead says it's ready for flooding

River height
This year's Red River of the North flood at Fargo-Moorhead is shaping up to be the latest on record. This graphic from the National Weather Service shows the river's crest in recent floods.
Courtesy National Weather Service

The city of Moorhead has learned some lessons about flood preparation after three consecutive years of major flooding.

City officials say 400,000 bags of sand are ready to be deployed. And, that should be sufficient to construct sandbag levees to a top elevation of 43 feet.

The National Weather Service says there's a 40 percent chance the Red River could top the 2009 record of nearly 41 feet. Homes and business in the area are affected when the river reaches 38 feet.

Forecasters say the most likely scenario calls for the river to peak between 39 and 41 feet at Moorhead and neighboring Fargo, N.D., in late April or early May, with a maximum possibility of 42 feet.

Moorhead is holding neighborhood meetings on Monday to brief residents on flood preparations.

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