This is getting old real fast. Why the founding fathers decided to build a city so close to a river that has flooded since the creation of the world is baffling. There are only two solutions:
1. build a real dyke system so they don’t incur the expense of rebuilding multiple times.
2. move to higher ground. It’s not like there’s a shortage of vacant land in North Dakota.
While ther is no shortage of land…it appears there is a shortage of land on higher ground!
ND is pretty flat from what I hear. Checking the terrain maps on google verify this.
So what are they to do? Move the city several miles west/east?
In the early days when these communities were founded..they were founded near water sources and when they did flood out it was rather limited in the damage. Now that there are serveral thousands and density the exposure is greater.
“density” is a proper descriptor for those who continue to build and live in the flood footprint of the Red River. It’s flooding is legendary. It’s akin to New Orleans, a place build BELOW SEA LEVEL and one prone to hurricane devastation. Think of the BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars that have been spent trying to fight mother nature. In a contest between man and mother nature……….always bet on mother nature. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of paying taxes that are squandered on repeat disasters.
mother nature usually wins any war — think of the tornadoes, hurricanes and the like. unless someone has a direct phone line w/her, we have to build accordingly. buildings and city. we have to think big not small. worse scenario. think not only of Katrina, but what about the flood fm last year in the Midwest. here’s the most important thing that nobody is still learning — did you buy the insurance you need? how many times as an agent we tell folks what they should have, but they don’t because they don’t want to pay the extra $$. now, they will pay more! um..um.. will they do it now?! probably not.
You have a comment about every article and most of the time it seems that you spout off without knowing what you are talking about.
It is again obvious that you didn’t think before you posted on this article. Look at where the founding fathers located evey city in this country. IT WAS BUILT CLOSE TO A WATER SUPPLY.
They do have a permanent dike system. If you read the article, you would have known that this river level is at a historic level, beyond what the dikes were built to handle.
Your ignorance shows through in your comment ‘move to higher ground, there is no shortage of vacant land’.
Objective retort from a local? Hardly. The Red River is legend for flooding repeatedly over the centuries. Most recently, 48,50,79,97, and 09. The 97 flood caused collective damages to the Reed River Basin in the amount of $3.5 billion dollars. Who knows what it will be for 09. Pretty pricey for few small cities. I’d bet Fargo takes more from the federal governemt than it receives in aid.
Another article indicates that most people in Fargo didn’t bother to invest in insurance to protect their property. They thought it was too expensive and decided to gamble they’d be safe. Guess what? When you gamble you run the risk of losing. I wouldn’t support any aid to those people from taxpayer money. If it wasn’t important enough for them to protect their property, they should live with that decision.
I’m not sure that stating “most cities are built by water” is unobjective, but obviously you think it is.
I agree that people should have purchased flood insurance, but the reality is that many did not.
However, as soon as New Orleans gives back all of the Hurrican money, and every other FEMA recipient gives back the money they recieved, I will agree with your point about the Red River Valley not getting any support.
You can’t get the money for your area, and not expect a flood of unprecedented proprtions be left out.
It would be very interesting to see how much federal money will be spent on the recovery effort. I doubt much FEMA involvement as the percentage of homeowners with water damage were small due to preparations made by the citizens and volunteers.
I anticipate being “Called up” to assist with the recovery efforts and am looking forward to assisting the citizens in any way I can.
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This is getting old real fast. Why the founding fathers decided to build a city so close to a river that has flooded since the creation of the world is baffling. There are only two solutions:
1. build a real dyke system so they don’t incur the expense of rebuilding multiple times.
2. move to higher ground. It’s not like there’s a shortage of vacant land in North Dakota.
While ther is no shortage of land…it appears there is a shortage of land on higher ground!
ND is pretty flat from what I hear. Checking the terrain maps on google verify this.
So what are they to do? Move the city several miles west/east?
In the early days when these communities were founded..they were founded near water sources and when they did flood out it was rather limited in the damage. Now that there are serveral thousands and density the exposure is greater.
“density” is a proper descriptor for those who continue to build and live in the flood footprint of the Red River. It’s flooding is legendary. It’s akin to New Orleans, a place build BELOW SEA LEVEL and one prone to hurricane devastation. Think of the BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars that have been spent trying to fight mother nature. In a contest between man and mother nature……….always bet on mother nature. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of paying taxes that are squandered on repeat disasters.
mother nature usually wins any war — think of the tornadoes, hurricanes and the like. unless someone has a direct phone line w/her, we have to build accordingly. buildings and city. we have to think big not small. worse scenario. think not only of Katrina, but what about the flood fm last year in the Midwest. here’s the most important thing that nobody is still learning — did you buy the insurance you need? how many times as an agent we tell folks what they should have, but they don’t because they don’t want to pay the extra $$. now, they will pay more! um..um.. will they do it now?! probably not.
Dread:
You have a comment about every article and most of the time it seems that you spout off without knowing what you are talking about.
It is again obvious that you didn’t think before you posted on this article. Look at where the founding fathers located evey city in this country. IT WAS BUILT CLOSE TO A WATER SUPPLY.
They do have a permanent dike system. If you read the article, you would have known that this river level is at a historic level, beyond what the dikes were built to handle.
Your ignorance shows through in your comment ‘move to higher ground, there is no shortage of vacant land’.
Objective retort from a local? Hardly. The Red River is legend for flooding repeatedly over the centuries. Most recently, 48,50,79,97, and 09. The 97 flood caused collective damages to the Reed River Basin in the amount of $3.5 billion dollars. Who knows what it will be for 09. Pretty pricey for few small cities. I’d bet Fargo takes more from the federal governemt than it receives in aid.
Another article indicates that most people in Fargo didn’t bother to invest in insurance to protect their property. They thought it was too expensive and decided to gamble they’d be safe. Guess what? When you gamble you run the risk of losing. I wouldn’t support any aid to those people from taxpayer money. If it wasn’t important enough for them to protect their property, they should live with that decision.
I’m not sure that stating “most cities are built by water” is unobjective, but obviously you think it is.
I agree that people should have purchased flood insurance, but the reality is that many did not.
However, as soon as New Orleans gives back all of the Hurrican money, and every other FEMA recipient gives back the money they recieved, I will agree with your point about the Red River Valley not getting any support.
You can’t get the money for your area, and not expect a flood of unprecedented proprtions be left out.
It would be very interesting to see how much federal money will be spent on the recovery effort. I doubt much FEMA involvement as the percentage of homeowners with water damage were small due to preparations made by the citizens and volunteers.
I anticipate being “Called up” to assist with the recovery efforts and am looking forward to assisting the citizens in any way I can.