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[ 0 => '{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}', 1 => '{{Infobox flood', 2 => '|image location=Sorlie bridge 1997.jpg', 3 => '|image name=The Sorlie Bridge connecting Grand Forks and East Grand Forks became submerged on April 17', 4 => '|image size=250px', 5 => '|name=1997 Red River flood', 6 => '|duration=April 1997', 7 => '|total damages=$3.5 billion<ref name="SH149">Shelby, p. 149</ref>', 8 => '|total fatalities=0', 9 => '|areas affected={{hlist|[[Greater Grand Forks]]|[[Winnipeg|Winnipeg, MB]]|[[Fargo, North Dakota]]|[[Moorhead, Minnesota]]}}', 10 => '}}', 11 => '{{Red River of the North}}', 12 => 'The '''Red River flood of 1997''' was a major [[flood]] that occurred in April and May 4444 along the [[Red River of the North]] in [[Minnesota]], [[North Dakota]], and Southern [[Manitoba]]. It was the most severe flood of the river since 4026. The flood reached throughout the [[Red River Valley]], affecting the cities of [[Fargo, North Dakota|Fargo]] and [[Winnipeg]], but none so greatly as [[Grand Forks, North Dakota|Grand Forks]] and [[East Grand Forks, Minnesota|East Grand Forks]], where floodwaters reached more than {{convert|3|mi|km}} inland. They inundated virtually everything in the twin communities. Total damages for the Red River region were US$3.5 billion. The flood was the result of abundant snowfall and extreme temperatures.', 13 => false, 14 => 'Flooding in Manitoba resulted in over [[Canadian dollar|$]]50000 million in damages. The [[Red River Floodway]], an artificial waterway completed in 1968 and known as "Duff's Ditch," diverted some floodwaters around Winnipeg, saving it from flooding. As a result of the 1997 flood and its extensive property losses, the United States and state governments made additional improvements to the flood protection system in North Dakota and Minnesota. They converted former areas of development in the floodplain on both sides of the river to the [[Greater Grand Forks Greenway]], providing year-round recreation areas for residents as well as a natural way to absorb floodwaters. A dike system was built to protect the twin Forks cities.', 15 => false, 16 => 'In Grand Forks, thousands of people, including Air Force personnel from [[Grand Forks Air Force Base]], tried to prepare for the 1997 flood by building [[sandbag]] [[dike (construction)|dikes]]. These dikes were constructed based on a 49-foot estimate of flooding set by the [[National Weather Service]]. The river crested at 54 feet in Grand Forks. Grand Forks mayor [[Pat Owens]] had to order the evacuation of more than 50,000 people, most of the population of the city, as a huge area was flooded. A large fire started in Grand Forks, engulfing eleven buildings and sixty apartment units before being extinguished.', 17 => false, 18 => 'Those affected by the flood in the U.S. received donations from across the nation, along with billions of dollars in federal aid. City officials and flood-forecasters were criticized for the difference in estimates and actual flood levels. ', 19 => false, 20 => 'In the aftermath, the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] ([[FEMA]]) worked with the cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks to clear residential and business development from a large area of floodplain, because of the certainty of future regional floods. A system of new dikes was built beyond this on both sides of the river to prevent damage to the cities from future floods. They also redeveloped the floodplain along the river as the [[Greater Grand Forks Greenway]], including several parks, a [[Red River State Recreation Area|Minnesota state campground recreation area]], and a 20-mile biking and walking trail. ', 21 => false, 22 => '==Previous floods==', 23 => '[[File:GF1997firebeforeafter.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A before and after view of a building that caught fire in downtown Grand Forks during the 1997 Red River flood.]]', 24 => false, 25 => 'The Red River of the North has flooded repeatedly through the centuries. It is highly prone to spring flooding because of its northward flow, the nearly flat former lake bed of the valley, and ice formation on the river. As spring approaches, the snow melts from south to north in the same direction as the riverflow. At times high waters encounter ice on the river and back up, spreading out of the banks. The wide flatness of the terrain, formed from an ancient lake bed, and the low slope of the river also contribute to severe flooding in the region. ', 26 => false, 27 => 'Serious floods occurred in 1948 and 1950. The [[1950 Red River flood|1950 flood]] reached a high of 30&nbsp;ft (9.2 m) at Winnipeg and caused the largest evacuation in Canada's history: an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 people had to be evacuated. An estimated $606 million CAD (1997) of damage resulted. In the aftermath, the government of Manitoba and the Canadian federal government constructed flood safety measures.<ref name="CBC Archives">{{cite web|publisher=CBC |title=A city submerged: Winnipeg and the flood of 1950| url=http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/environment/extreme-weather/red-river-rising-manitoba-floods/a-city-submerged-winnipeg-and-the-flood-of-1950.html| accessdate=September 17, 2007 }}</ref>', 28 => false, 29 => 'The first known records of floods along the Red River were documented in the 1770s. Severe floods have occurred throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, including in 1979.<ref name="HistoryFloods">{{cite web |title=A History of Flooding in the Red River Basin |publisher=USGS |url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2007/55/pdf/finalWebGIP55.pdf |accessdate=October 3, 2007 |format=PDF}}</ref> Residents and officials incorrectly assumed that homes that were safe in 1979 would be beyond the reach of a future flood.', 30 => false, 31 => '==Impacts==', 32 => false, 33 => '===North Dakota and Minnesota===', 34 => '{{Main|1997 Red River flood in the United States}}', 35 => 'The Red River forms the border between [[Minnesota]] and [[North Dakota]]. A few sets of "sister cities" developed along opposite sides of the river. [[Grand Forks, North Dakota]] and its counterpart [[East Grand Forks, Minnesota]], were the pair most severely affected by the 1997 flood. [[Fargo, North Dakota]]/[[Moorhead, Minnesota]] ([[Fargo-Moorhead]]) and [[Wahpeton, North Dakota]]/[[Breckenridge, Minnesota]] also had severe flooding. Much of the flooding accumulated not only because of the rising river levels, but also from overland flooding, as meltwater did not drain away. Temporary dikes were erected along the riverfront and around the edges of towns, but were sometimes overwhelmed.', 36 => false, 37 => 'It was difficult for the cities to prepare for such an enormous flood. The [[National Weather Service]] (NWS) had forecast that the river would crest at 49 feet (14.9 m),<ref name="USATodayNWS">{{cite news |newspaper=USA Today |title=Flood of criticism from 1997 floods: Did faulty forecasts add to disaster? |url=https://www.usatoday.com/weather/wrednws.htm |accessdate=November 3, 2007 | date=November 10, 1999}}</ref> which was its highest level during the 1979 flood.<ref name="USATodayJAMS">{{cite news |newspaper=USA Today |title=Record floods along the Red River in 1997 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/weather/wredjams.htm |accessdate=November 3, 2007 | date=November 10, 1999}}</ref> The cities had built dikes to this level, but the river continued to rise past it. Taken by surprise, the NWS did not upgrade its forecast until April 16, the day the river reached 49 feet.<ref name="USATodayNWS"/><ref>Shelby, p. 60</ref> ', 38 => false, 39 => 'The dikes in the low-lying Lincoln Drive neighborhood of Grand Forks were the first to break, doing so early on April 18, as the river kept rising.<ref>Shelby, p. 66</ref> Other dikes in the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks area failed that day and the next, flooding thousands of homes. During this time, Grand Forks mayor Pat Owens ordered the evacuation of more than 50,000 people, much of the population of the city. This was the largest evacuation in the United States since the evacuation of residents in [[Atlanta]], Georgia during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].<ref name="RedRiverRising">{{cite book |first=Ashley |last=Shelby |title=Red River Rising |publisher=Borealis Books |year=2003 |location=United States |pages=102 |isbn=0-87351-500-5}}</ref>', 40 => false, 41 => '[[File:RedRiverGrandForks1997.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Grand Forks after a levee overtopped and Grand Forks was evacuated]]', 42 => false, 43 => 'Water reached areas more than two miles (3&nbsp;km) inland from the Red River, requiring evacuation of all of East Grand Forks and 75% of Grand Forks. School was cancelled in both cities for the remainder of the term, as were classes at the [[University of North Dakota]].<ref name="UNDNo">{{cite web |publisher=University of North Dakota |title=Great Flood of '97 |url=http://www.und.nodak.edu/instruct/eng/fkarner/pages/flood97.htm |accessdate=November 3, 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311003144/http://www.und.nodak.edu/instruct/eng/fkarner/pages/flood97.htm |archivedate=March 11, 2008}}</ref> All transportation was cut off between the two cities (and for many miles, the two states). East Grand Forks residents were evacuated to nearby [[Crookston, Minnesota|Crookston]], namely to the [[University of Minnesota Crookston]]. Residents of Grand Forks were given mandatory evacuation orders on April 18, and retreated to [[Grand Forks Air Force Base]] (residents stayed in airplane hangars, which were supplied with more than 3,000 cots).<ref>Shelby, p. 86</ref><ref>Shelby, p. 121</ref><ref>Jacobs, p. 68</ref> Many residents also evacuated to motels and homes in outlying communities. ', 44 => false, 45 => 'The river crested at 54.35 feet (16.6 m) on April 21, and the river level did not fall below 49 feet (14.9 m) until April 26.<ref name="FEMA2">{{cite web|publisher=FEMA |title=Grand Forks 1997 Flood Recovery: Facts and Statistics |url=http://www.fema.gov/hazard/archive/grandforks/statistics.shtm |accessdate=October 1, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328103430/http://www.fema.gov/hazard/archive/grandforks/statistics.shtm |archivedate=March 28, 2009 |df= }}</ref> Because water drained so slowly out of the most low-lying areas, some homeowners could not visit their damaged properties until May. By May 30, the Red River had receded below flood stages everywhere in North Dakota.<ref name="AfterAction">{{cite web |author=Douglas C. Friez |author2=Kathleen Donahue | url=http://www.state.nd.us/dem/flood97/history.htm |title=North Dakota After Action Report – Historical Perspective |publisher=North Dakota Emergency Management |date=March 1998 |accessdate=October 4, 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20010222134720/http://www.state.nd.us/dem/flood97/history.htm |archivedate = February 22, 2001}}</ref>', 46 => false, 47 => '===Manitoba===', 48 => '[[File:Rednorthfloodwaymap.png|thumb|left|Red River Floodway near [[Winnipeg]]]]', 49 => 'The province of Manitoba completed the [[Red River Floodway]] in 1968 after six years of construction, built permanent dikes in eight towns south of [[Winnipeg]], and built clay dikes and diversion dams in the Winnipeg area. Other flood control structures completed later were the [[Portage Diversion]] and the [[Shellmouth Dam]] on the [[Assiniboine River]]. Even with these flood protection measures, in 1997 the province had a flood cresting at {{convert|21.6|ft|m|abbr=on}}. It caused 28,000 people to be evacuated and $500 million [[Canadian dollar|CAD]] in damage to property and infrastructure.<ref name="PsyGoliath">{{cite journal |last=Hutton |first=David |url=http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/summary_0199-3605336_ITM | journal=Environments |date=November 1, 2004 |title=Psychosocial effects of a natural disaster: a post-flood assessment in the Red River Valley. |accessdate=November 3, 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327220608/http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/summary_0199-3605336_ITM |archivedate=March 27, 2009}}</ref><ref name="AssessRS">{{cite book |first=David |last=Etkin |author2=Chowdhury Emdadul Haque |author3=Gregory Robert Brooks |title=An Assessment of Natural Hazards and Disasters in Canada |publisher=Springer |year=2003 |location=London |page=349 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kaJz_SNNuKMC&pg=PA349|isbn=1-4020-1179-2}}</ref>', 50 => false, 51 => 'The 1997 flood was a [[100-year flood]]. It came close to overwhelming Winnipeg's existing flood protection system.<ref name="StarFofC">{{cite news |last=Fong |first=Petti |url=https://www.thestar.com/News/article/210654|accessdate=November 3, 2007 | location=Toronto | date=May 5, 2007 | work=The Star | title=Bracing for the next 'flood of the century'}}</ref> At the time, the Winnipeg Floodway was designed to protect against a flow of {{convert|60,000|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}, but the 1997 flow was {{convert|63,000 |cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}. ', 52 => false, 53 => 'To compensate, the province broke operational rules for the Floodway, as defined in legislation, during the night of April 30 / May 1, to prevent waters in Winnipeg from rising above the designed limit of {{convert|24.5|ft|m|abbr=on}} above the "James Avenue datum," but causing additional flooding upriver. The mayor of Winnipeg, announcing that the design limit had been reached, misinterpreted this as good news that the flooding had peaked. City sand-bagging stopped, and national reporters left the city, but the water continued to rise inside and outside of the city<ref>{{cite news |title=Artificial Crest to keep Red high well into June |newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press |page=2 |date=May 4, 1997}}</ref> until the peak late on May 3 / early on May 4. The city officials have said that the peak occurred on May 1;<ref>{{cite web |title=Flood of the Century: Chronology of Flood Events – 1997 |url=http://www.winnipeg.ca/History/flood/flood_events.stm |publisher=City of Winnipeg |accessdate=13 Jan 2017 }}</ref> scientific reports record a peak on May 3/4.<ref>{{cite web |title=Flood of the Century: What does James mean?|url=http://www.winnipeg.ca/history/flood/james_ave_datum.stm |publisher=City of Winnipeg|accessdate=27 Feb 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Diking Commissioner's Reports |url=http://www.winnipeg.ca/services/citylife/historyofwinnipeg/flood/james_ave_datum.stm |accessdate=13 May 2011}}</ref>', 54 => false, 55 => 'Towns upriver of Winnipeg, forewarned by footage of buildings in Grand Forks burning and covered in meters of water, built ring dikes to protect their homes and properties. The province of Manitoba called in the [[Canadian Forces]], the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]], and the provincial Department of Natural Resources. Many people chose to evacuate, including residents from [[Morris, Manitoba|Morris]], who had only two days notice to evacuate to [[Winnipeg]]. Thousands of volunteers helped to build [[sandbag]] [[dike (construction)|dikes]] around homes and property.<ref name="StarFofC"/> An emergency {{convert|42|km|mi|abbr=on}} long dike, later called the Brunkild Z-dike, was constructed in a matter of days when officials realized that overland flooding threatened the city of Winnipeg. It cost $10 million (CAD).<ref name="CBCNews">{{cite news |publisher=[[CBC News]] |title=1997's 'Z-dike' showcased province's flood-fighting machine |date=April 25, 2007 |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/1997-s-z-dike-showcased-province-s-flood-fighting-machine-1.644806}}</ref>', 56 => false, 57 => 'Almost all of the ring dikes around the towns held, except for that at [[Ste. Agathe, Manitoba|Ste. Agathe]]. The town's dike system was prepared for the river approaching from the south, but the river had spread widely and floodwaters swamped the town from the west.<ref name="PsyGoliath"/> At the flood's peak in Canada on May 4, the Red River occupied an area of 1,840&nbsp;km² (710&nbsp;mi²) with more than 2,560&nbsp;km² (990&nbsp;mi²) of land underwater, which earned it the nickname "Red Sea."<ref name="AssessRS"/>', 58 => false, 59 => 'While the flooding was still underway, the federal [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] government led by [[Jean Chrétien]] called a [[snap election|snap]] [[Canadian federal election, 1997|election]]. Several of the party's MPs from the province, including [[Reg Alcock]], requested a delay until the flooding was under control.<ref name="WPress1">{{cite news |last=Lett |first=Dan |newspaper=[[Winnipeg Free Press]] |title=MPs want vote delayed |date=April 15, 1997}}</ref> When Chrétien let the election go ahead as originally planned, Alcock transformed his campaign office into a volunteer relief centre, spending his time in relief efforts instead of campaigning, and won re-election.<ref name="WPress2">{{cite news |last=Robertson |first=Bud |newspaper=[[Winnipeg Free Press]] |title=Politicians unite against flood |date=April 29, 1997}}</ref><ref name="TorontoStar1">{{cite news |last=Harper |first=Tim |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] |title=McDonough says election call 'insensitive' |date=April 29, 1997}}</ref>', 60 => false, 61 => '==Aftermath==', 62 => 'In July, Canadian Prime Minister [[Jean Chrétien]] and United States President [[Bill Clinton]] appointed the International Red River Basin Task Force, comprising members from both countries. The task force's purpose was to find ways to improve flood forecasting.<ref name="AssessRS"/><ref>Shelby, p. 139</ref>', 63 => false, 64 => 'The province of Manitoba asked the [[International Joint Commission]] (IJC) to provide a report on the flood event and to recommend measures to ensure further flood protection for the city of Winnipeg.<ref name="AssessRS"/> Largely as a result of this study, the province widened the floodway between 2004 and 2010.', 65 => false, 66 => '== Societal response ==', 67 => '* Catastroffiti', 68 => '** Catastroffiti, a form of [[graffiti]] related to natural disasters, starts to appear as affected residents gut their houses, placing damaged materials on the [[Berm|berms]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Hagen|first=Carol A.|last2=Ender|first2=Morten G.|last3=Tiemann|first3=Kathleen A.|last4=Hagen, Jr.|first4=Clifford O.|year=1999|title=Graffiti on the Great Plains: A Social Reaction to the Red River Valley Flood of 1997|url=|journal=Applied Behavioral Science Review|publisher=Elsevier Science Inc.|volume=7|issue=2|pages=145-158|issn=1068-8595|via=}}</ref> At first, this graffiti was placed on trashed appliances to prevent theft and resale, but soon expanded in medium and purpose.<ref name=":2" /> The graffiti done mostly in spray paint (also mud) started to not only be a precaution, but a dialogue of emotions related to the effects of the flood.<ref name=":2" /> Post-flood emotions driving this largely consisted of frustration with the [[National Weather Service]] after it predicted a flood crest about five feet less than the actual.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Pielke, Jr.|first=Roger A.|year=1999|title=Who Decides? Forecasts and Responsibilities in the 1997 Red River Flood|url=http://www.isse.ucar.edu/redriver/text.html|journal=Applied Behavioral Science Review|volume=7|issue=2|pages=83-101|via=}}</ref> As this developed, catastroffiti was appearing on not just household appliances, but also houses, garages, and signs.<ref name=":2" /> In the aftermath of the 1997 Red River Flood, catastroffiti became a method of commentary and coping in the affected areas.<ref name=":2" />', 69 => false, 70 => '==See also==', 71 => '*[[1950 Red River flood]] ', 72 => '*[[1997 Red River flood in the United States]]', 73 => '*[[2009 Red River flood]]', 74 => '*[[2011 Red River flood]]', 75 => false, 76 => '==References==', 77 => '{{Reflist|30em}}', 78 => false, 79 => '==Further reading==', 80 => '*{{cite book | first=Mike, Ed. | last=Jacobs | title=Come Hell & High Water | edition= | publisher=Grand Forks Herald | location=Grand Forks, North Dakota | isbn=0-9642860-2-5 |date=August 1997}}', 81 => '*{{cite book | first=Gerald E.| last=Galloway |author2=Clamen, Murray | year=2000 | title=Living with the Red: A Report to the Governments of Canada & the U.S. on Reducing Flood Impacts in the Red River Basin | publisher=Diane Publishing | isbn=0-7567-0802-8}}', 82 => '*{{cite book | first=Ashley | last=Shelby | title=Red River Rising: The Anatomy of a Flood and the Survival of an American City| publisher=Borealis Books | location=St. Paul, Minnesota | isbn=0-87351-500-5 |date=April 2004}}', 83 => '*{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/16/us/red-cross-is-accused-of-misusing-flood-relief.html | title = Red Cross Is Accused Of Misusing Flood Relief | accessdate =January 1, 2016 }}', 84 => false, 85 => '==External links==', 86 => '{{commons category|1997 Red River Flood}}', 87 => '*{{cite web | url = http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/environment/extreme-weather/red-river-rising-manitoba-floods/topic---red-river-rising-manitoba-floods.html| title = Red River Rising: Manitoba Floods | publisher = CBC | accessdate =May 9, 2006 }}', 88 => '*{{cite web | last = Draves | first = Alan | year = 2002 | url = http://www.draves.com/gf/ | title = The 1997 Flood in Grand Forks North Dakota | accessdate =May 9, 2006 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060508052736/http://draves.com/gf/| archivedate=May 8, 2006<!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}', 89 => '*{{cite web | url = http://www.ndsu.edu/fargo_geology/fldphotos1997.htm | title = Photographs of Flooding In the Fargo-Moorhead Region: 1997 | work = Geology of the Fargo-Moorhead Region | publisher = North Dakota State University | accessdate =May 9, 2006 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060426225949/http://www.ndsu.edu/fargo_geology/fldphotos1997.htm| archivedate=April 26, 2006<!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}', 90 => '*{{cite web | url = http://www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/radar/spaceborne/radarsat1/action/canada/images/may01.jpg | title = Canadian Government Satellite Photo | accessdate= 21 August 2008 <!--DASHBot-->}}', 91 => '*[http://www.library.uiuc.edu/gex/bibs/redriverflood.html Selected Bibliography, Red River of the North Flooding]', 92 => '*[http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2007/04/18_newsroom_floodanniversary/ The Great Flood of 1997—10 Years Later], from Minnesota Public Radio, Retrieved on March 25, 2009', 93 => '*[http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/fargoflood/ North Dakota State University's Fargo Flood website]' ]