The Flood
 

November

16-17: Blizzard Andy dumps 12" of snow

December

16-18: Blizzard Betty arrives five days before winter officially starts
20: Blizzard Christopher, the second blizzard in a week, drops 4.2" of snow
25: Temperatures plunge to 40 below at Flag Island on Lake of the Woods, setting a record for Minnesota’s coldest Christmas

January

9-11: Wind chills reach -80
11:The National Guard is activated to clear snow blocked roadways
12: President Clinton declares the region a disaster area
14-16: Blizzard Elmo arrives, prompting Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson to close all Minnesota schools
15: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers unveils $40 million ring levee proposal that would protect Grand Forks from a 100-year flood
22-23: Blizzard No. 6 is Franzi

February

14: The National Weather Service’s first outlook on Grand Forks flooding says the river may rise higher than 1979's crest of 48.8 feet

March

4: Blizzard Gust adds to the record snowfall, causing the roof of the East Grand Forks Civic Center to sag
28: The National Weather Service sticks to its forecast of 47.5 - 49 feet

April

3: Sandbagging and dike building begin in Greater Grand Forks.
4: Blizzard Hannah arrives with freezing rain that will leave 300,000 valley residents without power. This brings the total snowfall for the year to 98.6 inches.
5: At Breckenridge, Minn., sandbagging goes on despite the blizzard. Flood water forces hundreds from the city.
7: The Red River rises to 38.27 feet. National Weather Service still says 49 feet.
7: For the second time this year, President Clinton declares North Dakota a disaster area
8: Gov. Ed Schafer activates the National Guard to help with flood fighting efforts and blizzard recovery
10: East Grand Forks Flood Director Gary Sanders issues a call for 1,000 sand-baggers
11: The NWS predicts the Red River will crest during the week of April 20-27
11: Dike-walking begins in East Grand Forks
14: Red rises to 44.43 feet
14: The NWS raises its crest prediction to 50 feet
14: The Point Bridge closes in EGF
15: East Grand Forks Mayor Lynn Stauss says 300-400 Sherlock Park and Griggs Park Residents may have to evacuate by nightfall. The city issues guidelines for evacuation.
15: Due to ice jams and overland flooding, Warren, Minn., suffers its third flood in less than a year
16: The Flood of 1997 officially becomes the Flood of the Century as the river rises above 1979's 48.88 feet
16: The NWS changes crest prediction to 50.5 feet
16: Grand Forks officials warn residents of possible evacuations
17: Red stands at 50.96 feet. NWS raises prediction again to 51.5 feet.
17: About 1 p.m., hundreds of Lincoln Drive residents evacuate after reports that a nearby dike had broken. The dike is repaired.
17: East Grand Forks Mayor Lynn Strauss’ battle cry of “two feet in two days” urges residents to raise dikes to meet rising crest predictions.
17: Red River breaks through a clay dike south of Bygland, filling a coulee that passes through East Grand Forks
17: The Blue Moose closes at 1 p.m.to allow all employees to sandbag and to hand out sandwiches to the National Guard and other volunteers

THREE TRAGIC DAYS: April 18-20

FRIDAY, APRIL 18

2:45am: Red River at 51.42 feet
4:15am: Boils appear in the Lincoln Park dike. City orders evacuation, including 106 residents of Valley Memorial Homes-Almonte Living Center.
6am: City orders evacuation of Riverside and Central Park areas
8am: Water runs out of north end of Lincoln Park Golf Course & down Lincoln Drive
11:15am: “It’s one of the major disasters of our lifetime,” Grand forks Mayor Pat Owens tells CNN television
11:35am: NWS revises its crest projection to 53 feet for today or Saturday.
Noon: River at 52.19'
12:15pm: First break in East Grand Forks dike comes near Folson Park but ring dike temporarily saves area
3:30pm: Dike just south of Murray Bridge in East Grand Forks breaks, resulting in the flooding of entire Point area
4pm: Sirens sound as Point area ordered evacuated, and Murray Bridge closes
4:30pm: Water in Lincoln Drive area reaches same level as river, leaving about 300 homes in water, many of them to the rooftops
7:14pm: Red River reaches 52.62, up 18 inches in 18 hours
8:08pm: NWS revises crest for 54.0 feet on Saturday
8:20pm: Central Park area fills rapidly
9:40pm: Emergency Operations Center at Grand Forks police station moves to UND as storm sewer backup runs down Fifth Street. Within 30 minutes, the police station basement is full of water.
10pm: Red River reaches 52.76; Mayor Owens bans sale of alcohol in Grand Forks
11pm: EGF dike near Kennedy Bridge fails, cutting the last link between the two cities and flooding Sherlock Park homes

SATURDAY, APRIL 19

Midnight: Water flows off dike by Murray Bridge, flooding inside Griggs Park in EGF.
29: An anonymous woman, “Angel,” pledges to give $2,000 to every household hurt by flood waters

MAY

1: FEMA announces it will bring 100 fully equipped trailers for evacuees
1: Dedicated employees return to the Blue Moose and start the recovery process
2: Non-drinkable water is restored in Grand Forks
3: Experts say this wasn’t a 500-year flood, but the flood could be worse, and it could come soon
4: North Dakota’s Congressional delegation requests an explanation from the National Weather Service and the Army Corps of Engineers on why they didn’t share information that might have offered a more accurate flood forecast
5: Mayor Owens issues order banning scavengers from picking through debris on the berms
8: A second “Angel” gives $5 million for people in Greater Grand Forks
11: The Point Bridge re-opens
12: Drinkable tap water is restored to Grand Forks
15: Mayor Owens meets with first lady Hillary Clinton in Washington, D.C.
24: A National Weather Service team arrives in North Dakota to investigate the flood forecasts
28: After 40 days and 40 nights of hard work and dedication from Blue Moose employees, the downtown business closest to the river re-opens. There was also a brief rain shower on this day that created a vibrant, beautiful rainbow over the Blue Moose on its opening day.

JUNE

9:The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposes three flood-protection plans for Greater Grand Forks
12: President Clinton signs revised $8.6 billion disaster-aid bill

OCTOBER 4, 1998

The Blue Moose closes so the building can be relocated to the dry side of the dike

NOVEMBER 13, 1998

The Blue Moose crosses Demers Avenue on its way to its new home!

JANUARY 1999

The new Blue Moose reopens at its new location and it’s better than ever!!!