Flood-threatened city urges vulnerable to leave

The mayor of a North Dakota town on a river already at a record level is calling for the evacuation of people who need medical help or who are elderly or live in low-lying areas.

Tuesday, April 14th 2009, 11:33 am

By: News 9

Flood-threatened city urges vulnerable to leave

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP) -- The mayor of a North Dakota town on a river already at a record level is calling for the evacuation of people who need medical help or who are elderly or live in low-lying areas.
   Valley City Mayor Mary Lee Nielson says evacuation will help city crews focus on their fight against the Sheyenne River.
   Nielson did not give an estimate Tuesday of how many people might be evacuated. There are nearly 7,000 people in the town on the rising Sheyenne River west of Fargo.
   North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven has doubled the number of National Guard members in Valley City to help monitor dikes.
   The mayor says about 450 Guard members are in the city.
   Crews have repaired at least three dike leaks in a 24 hour period.