Evacuation plans “just in case”
March 25, 2009
Officials are reminding residents to be prepared for evacuation if necessary. The chances of evacuation being necessary are not high, but real if the current flood fighting measures fail to stop the rising floodwaters.
Officials are still working on official contingency plans so none have yet to be released to the public.
Moorhead has recruited a team from the Twins Cities to help them design their evacuation plan and are expected to unveil the plans today.
It is likely that area schools may be primary shelters if necessary according to some authorities.
Some homes have been evacuated with the help of boats, in rural Clay County. If a widespread evacuation of Oakport Township is eminent, the Dilworth Community Center will likely be the shelter, according to officials.
Authorities plan to use warning sirens and the “Code Red” phone system to alert residents if evacuation is necessary. People will then need to turn to local media for more information.
Officials requesting that people sign up for the Code Red alert system. Some people were reporting earlier that it may take two weeks for the number to register, but officials want residents to know that this is false.
“If you give us a phone number tonight, we’ll make sure it’s in there tonight,” said Moorhead’s City Manager Mike Redlinger.
How to sign up for Code Red
Anyone interested in registering for Code Red alerts, go to the following Web site and follow the appropriate links:
- Clay County residents go to www.co.clay.mn.us.
The automated notification system can be used to inform about specific neighborhood emergencies.
One of Doug Stensgard’s dogs, Annie, looks out Tuesday over what used to be a 5-acre yard and an outbuilding that is now flooded by the rising Red River in Fargo. Stensgard built an earthen and sandbag dike around his home in the hope of holding back the floodwaters. Associated Press
