Flood risk prompts evacuations in Minot, North Dakota
Floodwater from a rising Souris River approaches a home in Minot, North Dakota.
June 21st, 2011
06:32 PM ET

Flood risk prompts evacuations in Minot, North Dakota

[Updated at 9:03 p.m. ET] Authorities have ordered the evacuation of some 12,000 people from the city of Minot, North Dakota, and surrounding areas because of expected record flooding, officials said Tuesday.

The swollen Souris River flows straight through the city and is expected to overwhelm area levees, said Cecily Fong, spokeswoman for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. Minot, located in the north central part of the state, is the fourth-largest city in North Dakota.

The evacuation order covers between a quarter and a third of the city's population, Fong said. Residents have until 6 p.m. CT Wednesday to leave their homes.

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Filed under: Flooding • North Dakota • Weather
soundoff (73 Responses)
  1. Mark

    I grew up in ND and lived in Grand Forks in 1997 during the flood that devastated the city and surrounding area. I pretty much lost everything I had in the flood, as did a lot of friends. I hope the best for Minot. My thoughts and prayers are with all my fellow North Dakotans.

    June 21, 2011 at 7:19 pm | Report abuse |
    • Chris

      I drove a milk truck and took water from wells west of GF to all the shelters. Didn't sleep in 88 hours. Left the next Feb.

      June 21, 2011 at 7:36 pm | Report abuse |
  2. brenda

    @ Mark – the GF flood was total devastation! Remember the headline, "Come Hell or Highwater"?

    June 21, 2011 at 7:24 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mark

      @Brenda – Oh yes, I remember the headline very well. I don't wish anyone to have to go through something like that. I hope Minot is able to dodge this one.

      June 21, 2011 at 7:27 pm | Report abuse |
  3. lisa

    I keep thinking with low employee rates and the need to protect our peoples and the increase of national disasters surely someone in gov would get a clue! Oh and employee more people to rid us of the illegals taking american jobs!

    June 21, 2011 at 7:28 pm | Report abuse |
    • Chris

      Well ND has a 1 billion dollar surplus that could have been spent on this and prevention but because Rep, namely Cons are in power, nothing gets spent but insurance company money to but these people new homes.

      June 21, 2011 at 7:44 pm | Report abuse |
    • From ND

      Chris, the comment about a billion dollar surplus might be the dumbest comment on the internet right now. So the government is supposed to predict weather and flooding so well that they would spend a billion dollars to do what exactly? Make the water go to Canada? Flood Montana?? Go back to your hole and learn something. The people of North Dakota are very smart, good people – they will not ask for handouts, they will handle this on their own with class. There will be no looting, not because of low density=low crime, because they have morals. They go to church and care about their neighbors.

      June 22, 2011 at 1:07 am | Report abuse |
  4. Txgranite

    Geez a little tension going on.

    June 21, 2011 at 7:29 pm | Report abuse |
    • Xotoxi

      Nah, just a bunch of basement dwelling trolls.

      June 21, 2011 at 7:41 pm | Report abuse |
  5. James

    What about the missiles......should those be evacuated?

    June 21, 2011 at 7:29 pm | Report abuse |
    • Got tired of cold weather

      The missiles have been gone for more than 10 years.

      June 21, 2011 at 7:52 pm | Report abuse |
    • ServedB4

      Minuteman ICBM missiles are still located around Minot AFB

      June 21, 2011 at 9:03 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Richard

    We are from Canada, about 4 hours from Minot. We love that place and visit often. You have our prayers.

    June 21, 2011 at 7:33 pm | Report abuse |
  7. ben

    @Brenda: I'd hope ND has the lowest crime rate and highest employment rate since it's one of the lowest populated states.

    June 21, 2011 at 7:36 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Xotoxi

    Prayers (and sandbags) from Fargo. But not to worry, you guys are North Dakotans. You will get thru this and come out stronger than ever. Unless the feds step in and screw everything up. God Bless!

    June 21, 2011 at 7:38 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Xotoxi

    @ ben ever heard of the term 'per capita' knuckle dragger?

    June 21, 2011 at 7:40 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Name*Leann

    About time CNN pays attention. Too late for sandbagging. It's not rain flood water, it's dam water coming from Canada. They opened all gates to full capacity and let her rip not giving Minot a chance. They had been fighting the rain on their own and then the dams had to go

    June 21, 2011 at 7:40 pm | Report abuse |
    • Xotoxi

      I say we open up Devils Lake and return the favor.

      June 21, 2011 at 7:43 pm | Report abuse |
    • Tim

      The dams are running at full steam because if they didn't open them up they would keep filling from all the rain and eventually burst. Then you'd see Minot in a whole lot more trouble than they are in right now. The dams regulate water flow but when the water flow gets this high due to all the rain the dams have to let out enough to keep them from letting go completely. The other problem is that we are still dealing with spring runoff which has kept the levels near max all spring. Xotoxi you need to think before you open yer mouth.

      June 21, 2011 at 8:33 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Chris

    Why doesn't ND use some of that 1 billion surplus on Flood Control / Prevention or is because the Republicans in charge are too stupid?

    June 21, 2011 at 7:45 pm | Report abuse |
    • Xotoxi

      We're saving up for more guns and bibles ....moron.

      June 21, 2011 at 7:47 pm | Report abuse |
    • Barney

      Chris, I think its you who is stupid. ND couldn't prevent this, its the Corp of Engineers in the USA that is flooding Bismarck and SD, IA, etc and last I remembered that was under the control of a Democrat – stupid is as stupid does.

      The dams in Canada were opened due to large rains and that is what is causing the flooding.

      Perhaps instead of being ignorant and make everything political you would understand what you are saying. Are you jealous that the Republican in ND have built up a $1 Billion surplus? Sure sounds like it to me.

      June 21, 2011 at 10:27 pm | Report abuse |
    • From ND

      No Chris, It's because you are stupid.

      June 22, 2011 at 11:52 am | Report abuse |
  12. Xotoxi

    I should say we are keeping a rainy day fund. Plenty of time for Obamanomics to f us over.

    June 21, 2011 at 7:49 pm | Report abuse |
    • ND Expat

      I bet they are saving up to buy a giant Arctic Cat jacket that covers the entire state. Or is Polaris the gay one?

      June 21, 2011 at 8:07 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Minot Citizen

    This is such a devastating event for our city, thank you CNN for publishing this story. We have never seen flows like this in history. We don't need you to criticize our city or economy.

    June 21, 2011 at 7:54 pm | Report abuse |
  14. ServedB4

    I was stationed at Minot AFB in the mid 70s. The airmen were activated to assist in two back-to-back 100 year floods in Minot during that period. I'm amazed that more flood control hasn't been done around Minot in 30 years.

    June 21, 2011 at 8:45 pm | Report abuse |
  15. waterlogged

    Wait a minute. The census has N. Dakota's pop. at 11,982. Someone needs to inform the Border Patrol we may have 8 Canadians on the loose.

    June 21, 2011 at 9:30 pm | Report abuse |
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