North Dakota authorities order expanded evacuation

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota authorities expanded an evacuation order today for the state’s fourth-largest city, citing danger from the rising Souris River.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many residents were affected. National Guard Capt. Dan Murphy said officials were still examining maps and planned to release more information later.

As many as 10,000 residents were evacuated a day earlier as the Souris, swollen by heavy rains and snowmelt, threatened. Today, officials accelerated the release of water from the Lake Darling dam upstream and said it could raise the river 2 to 3 feet higher than earlier projections.

Officials also announced the closure of the Broadway Bridge, shutting down a key north-south artery in the city.

Parts of the city were already flooding. One trailer park near the river was under several feet of water. Much of today’s effort focused on protecting critical infrastructure, including sewer and water service; more evacuations could become necessary if either is knocked out by flooding.

Mayor Curt Zimbelman said the sewer and water situation was “under control” but being monitored.

The Souris was expected to peak Sunday or Monday several feet above its historic high in 1881. Gov. Jack Dalrymple had warned earlier that releases planned to begin today would be dramatic.

“In two days’ time, it will be a rapid, rapid rise,” Dalrymple said.

The river, which begins in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan and flows for a short distance though North Dakota, was all but certain to inundate thousands of homes and businesses during the coming week.