Fargo declares state of emergency after downpour

FARGO, N.D. - People struggled through flooded streets and homes Tuesday to rescue their belongings after a night of heavy rain left the city looking like a watery maze.

''There's nothing left. Clothes, personal stuff, pictures - things that couldn't be replaced. It's all under water now,'' said Debbie Poitra, whose basement-level apartment in Fargo was filled with 6 feet of water.

Poitra said the water started pouring in late Monday night. She and her husband tried to bail out the apartment with a 13-gallon garbage container, but nothing could keep the water back. It ''just took over everything,'' she said.

The city got about 7 inches of rain in a six-hour period from Monday night into Tuesday, said Mayor Bruce Furness, who declared a state of emergency. There were no reports of injuries, but there were plenty of waterlogged streets, homes, businesses and homes.

The Fargodome, the city's major arena, had about 6 feet of water on its main floor, executive director Paul Johnson said. Water came in the back loading dock area, and tables, turf and other equipment were under water. Damage to the dome was estimated to be at least $1.5 million.

''We're already seeing millions of dollars' worth of damage,'' Gov. Ed Schafer said Tuesday. ''The Fargodome is flooded. Most buildings at (North Dakota State University) are water-damaged ... It's a difficult situation.''

Parts of Interstate 29 were closed around Fargo, and streets were filled with stalled vehicles.

Fargo's operations director, Dennis Walaker, said it would take at least until early Wednesday for the city's sewer system to recover.

Sherry Estes stood on a sidewalk near a flooded street Tuesday with her pet parrot, waiting for a bus to take her to a motel. She said water started coming up out of her toilet and bathtub Monday night after the sewer system backed up.

She spent the night in the hallway of her apartment building.

''I have been totally depressed,'' she said. ''Luckily, we have someplace to go.''

The Red River was above flood stage in Fargo, after rising about 6 feet overnight. It was expected to crest Wednesday morning at around 28 feet, or 11 feet above flood stage.

About 75 miles to the north, the river was expected to crest about 4 feet above flood stage Saturday in Grand Forks, which was devastated when the river flooded three years ago. About 60,000 people were forced to evacuate then.

The National Weather Service extended a flash flood watch for the area Tuesday night. The weather service said the heaviest rain was over, but a few scattered storms could add up to an inch to already saturated areas.