Midwest prepares for Red River flooding

MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The Red River in the Midwest is expected to crest at near-record levels this weekend.

Residents of Fargo, North Dakota have now filled a million sandbags. Three-quarters of those are in place along the banks of the Red River.

This isn't the first time Fargo and its cross-river neighbor Moorhead, Minnesota have had to battle floodwaters. This year they hope that lessons learned in the past will help them minimize their losses.

Slowly, deliberately, the water continues to creep into places it's not supposed to be.

The Red River was at 30 feet Friday already at a major flood stage and rising.

"It's quite impressive of how everybody just kind of does their part, fights a giant river that runs through the heart of a city," said Moorhead resident Joe Beckich.

The fight will continue at least through the weekend.

The river is expected to crest Sunday at around 38 feet -- three-feet below last year's record.

The 2009 disaster carried with it painful lessons that many residents believe are paying dividends this time around.

"Thankfully we were more prepared this year, starting sandbagging, filling sandbags a couple of weeks ago," said resident James Teigland.

“There is not the panic…people are more relaxed,” Beckich said.

But they were not willing to rest, because they understand the water won't either.

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