RECORD FLOOD IN NORTH DAKOTA

Boat crews from federal agencies including the Coast Guard patrolled farming country in southeast North Dakota on Saturday, looking for people stranded by record flooding from the Sheyenne River. The river had risen by as much as a foot in some areas since Friday.

“Some people have already evacuated and some people are still fighting the fight,” said Coast Guard Chief Exor Pabro.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman Dave Wedan said two people were taken by airboat from their farm near Kindred. “We’ve been contacting a few other people at risk, but if they want to stay, we can’t make them go,” he said.

Water had risen to within 100 feet of another farm home near Kindred, but the family refused to evacuate. “They’ve got cows calving and sheep giving birth,” Wedan said. National Guard troops delivered sandbags, and neighbors were helping to build a dike around the home and barn, he said.

About 50 miles to the northwest, many of the 7,000 residents of flood-threatened Valley City had evacuated while the city’s sewer system was being repaired.

Water from the bloated Sheyenne River had backed up in the sewer system throughout town, said Mayor Mary Lee Nielson. She had urged residents to evacuate Friday.

Barnes County Sheriff Gene Bjerke said Valley City appeared to be holding its own. “The National Guard, residents and high school and college kids have been sandbagging to no end,” he said.

But he added: “I’ve got my waders ready.”

The National Weather Service said the river stood at about 20.5 feet Saturday. The record set in 1882 was 20 feet. Flood stage is 15 feet.