I wanted to start a new post on the Carl1 water situation Carl says its 2 weeks away and Todd said it could hit 40 feet! Carl; what did you do in the photo you posted last year, of the 'big flood" Do you have to sand bag your property at that level?
Hopefully not. What they are predicting is max about another 4 feet above that picture you posted.
That would put it near the top. However, that is their worst case scenario. If predictions are right, the average outcome would be similar to the picture or a bit higher.
It's not a good day as far as weather. Downstream from us in North Dakota they are experiencing some heavy rains. That is NOT a good thing. I have to admit I am pretty much focused on this situation these days. I suspect my goal of having my Acadian on the road this summer will not be met. After this passes there will be an ugly mess to clean up.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Oh, and that 40 feet prediction is a US way to measure. Not sure why they do that but that is a measurement from the absolute bottom of the river in the States.
I prefer the Canadian method. We forecast according to actual elevation. For example, our house main floor is 786 feet, 1997 was 783.3 feet and they are saying 779 to 782.5 feet for here in 2009. However, it will be close to 2 weeks before the peak gets here. So far, no sign of water rising here but it will within the week. The forecast elevations often change as it gets closer.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
You can build your house on a small hill above the flood levels or build a dike around your property. We're pretty lucky in the city, Winnipeg has a floodway which has gates before and after the city and a large man made ditch that diverts the water around the city.
Carl, I drove out to Fargo Thursday night for work and came back Friday afternoon. Lots of water in the ditches from the field runoff but most of the rivers and streams off the highway did not look very high too me honestly. Lets hope the rain stays away.
-- Edited by 62Beaumont on Sunday 22nd of March 2009 10:15:55 PM
what can be done to stop the year after year flooding carl?
My thoughts is this is pretty simple and I know it would make a big difference---
1) Create large water retention areas the full length of the Red River to ease the overload that happens in wet years. The Red River runs from the South Dakota border to north of Winnipeg, a total of about 300 miles. There's a number of wasteland areas along the way that could easily be used to hold some of the runoff and then release it over the summer. This has been discussed for years.
2) Quit digging out ditches deeper and wider. That's all everyone does beside the farmland on both the US and Canadian side. Everyone is just way too anxious to get rid of all that water right now every spring. I see it over and over. People cut through dirt/gravel roads, or install bigger culverts or build wider deeper ditches to drain off the water. It all runs to the Red because we are in a very large valley, about 40-50 miles across. The Red is the bottom of the valley, and large part of the valley population lives within 5 miles of the river. If everyone would just suck it up a little bit in the spring and have some patience it would also ease the overload. This too, has been discussed till the cows come home.
For many years, my brother was part of a group of people, both Candians and Americans who are working on alleviating this problem. I can not take credit for these ideas. I just believe very strongly that they would work.
To top it off, it seems like we have been in a wetter weather cycle for the past few years.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
I'm thinking of your situation Carl. We talked tonight about it at a family dinner. Being upstream on that river ... will it ever change but for the worse? As described, it's being seriously choked and controlled to the south....and north! Watched A segment on the news today about Fargo sandbagging like mad.
Good luck to the entire the Stephenson Family. We're watching...
mc
-- Edited by cdnpont on Tuesday 24th of March 2009 09:42:37 PM
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
At this point, not much more to say. We are just sitting here waiting. I will know much better in a week when it has made it's way north to Grand Forks, 100 miles south of us. At that point I can pretty much tell from past experiences how bad and also when it will hit.
It is more uncertain this time than it's ever been before. I've never carried such a load of stress before. My biggest problem is a boat. I have an outboard, and have a boat 3 1/2 hours away at our cabin, but I can't get the last 3 miles in to our cabin as the road isn't plowed. I am struggling to find a way to get the boat and gas tank with hose for the outboard and the generator home from the cabin but so far it's not working out. Once I have those things here, bring it on! I have our solar setup sitting here that I was taking to the lake this summer but I will set it up with a back up sump pump in case we lose power. All the planning is done, I just can't get the stuff home!!!
If anyone in our area knows of an aluminum boat (minimum 12', prefer 14') that can be borrowed or rented, please contact me 204-746-2841. I have the outboard, just have to get the fuel tank and hose home.
Not sleeping real well at nights right now. Funny how it has never affected me like this before and yet this will be the 4th time I've dealt with this. It's just the uncertainty that's killing me.
-- Edited by Carl Stevenson on Wednesday 25th of March 2009 12:37:25 PM
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Carl, I hope all goes well and the flood bypasses you and the other Manitoban close to the Red River such as Luc...This week rain and snowfalls sure ain't helping. Good Luck ! Hope God is on your side.
I am planning to move my automatic Impala SS inside the Morris dyke. Not for fear of it flooding but I need the space. Hate to think of that happening....
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
If you can't find a package deal to borrow, I have a 14' aluminum boat at my parents in St Malo, no motor or trailer but it fits upside down in the back of a 1/2 ton.
It's next to my orange car by the shed. If you want to borrow it, it's yours just let me know and I'll give my parents a heads up.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I know thanks is not enough, but don't worry, we'll get the compensation part worked out to everyone's satisfaction!
You have no idea how much you have brightened up my day. I already had another offer from AK for his 16' which would be fine except his is for a long shaft and I'm sure my 20 horse is short. If nothing else works out, his will do the trick for me. It's just that your's is so handy for me to run and grab it with my pickup.
Do you know if your's is made for a short shaft outboard? It seems to me that most of the 14' boats I have seen are made for short.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
I'll be keeping my fingers crossed as well tthat this isn't a repeat of the '97 Flood. (or worse) Anyhow, good luck with everything, hope EVERYONE that may be affected by this stays safe.
Thanks very much guys. To top it all off, our internet antenna iced up last night in the rain and it's dead at home! I hate that, I've been doing a lot of my organizing by using email etc. Had to come to the dealership to get some stuff ready so just checking in here.
Joel, I should know by the end of the day tomorrow but it looks pretty much like I will want to take you up on your very generous offer. I will send you a PM as soon as I know.
It's starting to come together pretty good here. Once I have a boat lined up and get my generator home for a backup I will be a lot more relaxed.
And as a side note, just be careful you don't let the media carry you away with this. We've lived these flood before and we are better prepared now than ever before (aside from my boat and generator difficulty!). Very few people will suffer any type of serious damage to homes unless something very unusual happens. The media is blowing it up pretty bad.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Good luck Carl. Ive had a few talks with my Parents. Aubigny has a ring dike around it now it didnt in 97. They should be fine, but I did tell them if the water blocks access to the house they are comming here for a stay.
yes Carl your right Red River poeple know wha they are up against. They built the ring dike around Aubigny two feet above 97 levels so it should be fine for the town. But it wil be a big Iland juring the crest. Now if you add wind and waves that might become a problem.
