According to North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple, the Souris River is flowing over most levees in Minot as it surges past a 130-year old record level.
Dalrymple spoke after a helicopter tour Friday, noting that water is several feet deep in parts of Minot. Take a look at the view from above:
About one-fourth of the population has been evacuated. It will be nip and tuck, Dalrymple said, whether a levee protecting a main north-south bridge will be high enough. The levee is higher than nearby rooftops.
City officials expect the Souris River to rise another six feet by this weekend, with thousands of homes and businesses lost to the waters. The water is rising so quickly, that it could be seen climbing up the sides of homes.
Airboats are on patrol, cruising around the town looking for anyone who did not evacuate. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service launched four boats on Friday to patrol flooded neighborhoods, ready to respond to 911 calls. City officials said no injuries or incidents had been reported overnight. The evacuation zone was empty except for emergency officials and the geese, who paddled in about 5 feet of water washing down the streets.
Here's a look at the latest photos out of Minot, ND:
National Guard personnel and members of the media watch as flood waters from the Souris River threaten residential property as flood water is over topping earthen dikes in Minot, North Dakota June 23, 2011. The rapidly rising Souris River poured over flood defenses on Wednesday, overwhelming efforts to delay the deluge and forcing the immediate evacuation of thousands of homes.REUTERSFlood waters from the Souris River streams to residential property as flood water over tops an earthen dike in Minot, North Dakota June 23, 2011. The rapidly rising Souris River poured over flood defenses on Wednesday, overwhelming efforts to delay the deluge and forcing the immediate evacuation of thousands of homes.REUTERSFloodwaters from the Souris River flow over a levee, threatening residential property in Minot, North Dakota June 23, 2011. The rapidly rising Souris River poured over flood defenses on Wednesday, overwhelming efforts to delay the deluge and forcing the immediate evacuation of thousands of homes.REUTERSPolicemen seal the road allowing only trucks hauling earth to past in downtown Minot, North Dakota June 24, 2011. Federal officials sharply increased plans to release more water on the swollen Souris River Thursday, adding up to three feet to the expected peak of flooding at Minot, North Dakota, where thousands of homes already have been evacuated.REUTERSNational Guard Soldiers pass sandbags to add to a clay levy around the Minot Public Library near the Souris River in downtown Minot, North Dakota June 24, 2011. Federal officials sharply increased plans to release more water on the swollen Souris River on Thursday, adding up to three feet to the expected peak of flooding at Minot, North Dakota, where thousands of homes already have been evacuated.REUTERSLaw enforcement personnel and State Fish and Games agents use an air boat to search a neighborhood for any remaining persons, in Minot, North Dakota, June 24, 2011. Federal officials sharply increased plans to release more water on the swollen Souris River Thursday, adding up to three feet to the expected peak of flooding at Minot, North Dakota, where thousands of homes already have been evacuated.REUTERSTrucks haul clay to build levees near the closed down Broadway Bridge in Minot, North Dakota, as flood water spill over levees and dikes, June 24, 2011. Federal officials sharply increased plans to release more water on the swollen Souris River Thursday, adding up to three feet to the expected peak of flooding at Minot, North Dakota, where thousands of homes already have been evacuated.REUTERS
