Audio Roseau preparing for flooding. Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Roseau Mayor Jeff Pelowski. Photos 2002 flooding Sandbagging Your Voice Join the conversation with other MPR listeners in the News Forum.

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Flooding feared as Roseau River rises in northern Minnesota
May 13, 2004

A return to 2002? This was what downtown Roseau looked like during a major flood in June 2002. (MPR file photo)

Roseau, Minn. — (AP) Roseau residents were sandbagging and building clay dikes Thursday to try to hold back a flood that could rival 2002, when heavy rains forced the Roseau River out of its banks, sending water over most of the northern town of about 2,700.

The National Weather Service predicted "major flooding" for the Roseau River and issued a flood warning for Roseau and Marshall counties through Friday due to heavy rains. Several side roads in the counties were washed out.

Late Thursday morning, the weather service predicted the river would crest at 20 to 22 feet Thursday night or early Friday morning.

The river was at 19 feet; flood stage is 16 feet. Crews spent Wednesday night trying to add another 2 feet to a levee system designed to protect the town up to 22 feet.

	Sandbagging

No more rain was forecast until Saturday.

High school students were released from class Wednesday so they could help with sandbagging.

The river was rising "slow and very predictable," said Mayor Jeff Pelowski.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials arrived in Roseau Wednesday afternoon to help decide where sandbags and clay dikes should be placed and local officials asked the National Guard to be "on standby" in case troops are needed.

"The river isn't expected to be as high as June 2002, but it's certainly problematic," Pelowski said.

Some basement flooding was reported Wednesday.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty planned a brief stop in the city about 9 p.m. Thursday, on his way from a local chamber of commerce dinner in Thief River Falls to Baudette for fishing opener activities beginning Friday.

The river was at just 6 feet Monday, before storms dumped 4 inches to 6 inches of rain on the area.

The expected flooding comes at a time when Roseau residents are still trying to rebuild the city from a 2002 flood, when heavy rains swelled the river to more than 23 feet - 7 feet above flood stage.

That flood caused more than $120 million in damage to the town about 10 miles south of the Canada border.

City officials are asking lawmakers for $12.5 million in emergency funds from the state to rebuild infrastructure and build a new government center.

But hopes are beginning to dim as the Legislature moves toward adjournment without finishing most of its major bills, including the bonding bill that would include the flood money.

In a 2002 special session, lawmakers agreed to an emergency package of $32 million, with most of it going to Roseau County.

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