BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Governor Doug Burgum has declared a state of emergency for Walsh County of eastern North Dakota based on the threat of major flooding.
Walsh County and the city of Grafton have been preparing for potential record flooding due to heavy snowpack, frozen and saturated soils, and a forecast for above-normal precipitation in April.
The current National Weather Service flood outlook for the Park River at Grafton calls for a crest of 14 to 16 feet around April 1, which would be close to the record crest of 16.16 feet on May 22, 2013.
The governor’s executive order puts all state agencies on standby for flood response, including the North Dakota National Guard. He’s also requesting flood preparation assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, saying federal help is needed.
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