The flood reached throughout the Red River Valley , affecting the cities of Fargo , Moorhead , and Winnipeg , while Grand Forks and East Grand Forks received the most damage, where floodwaters reached over 3 miles 5 km inland, inundating virtually everything in the twin communities.
The flood was the result of abundant snowfall and extreme temperatures. Although river levels in Fargo reached record heights, the city was protected by several dikes and received minimal damage. In Grand Forks, however, the river crested at 54 feet 16 m , surpassing the foot 15 m estimate of flooding set by the National Weather Service. Within East Grand Forks, all but eight homes were damaged by floodwaters. Grand Forks mayor Pat Owens had to order the evacuation of over 50, people as a large portion of the city would eventually be flooded.
A large fire started in Grand Forks, engulfing eleven buildings and sixty apartment units before being extinguished. Those affected by the flood received donations from across the nation, along with billions in federal aid. City officials and flood-forecasters were criticized for the difference in estimates and actual flood levels.
Fargo, Grand Forks, and East Grand Forks built new dikes to prevent damage from future floods and the Greater Grand Forks area began to rebuild around the river, developing a campground recreation area , park , and shopping districts where homes once stood. The Red River in Manitoba and the U. The river is highly prone to flooding because of its northward flow. As spring approaches, the snow is melted from south to north alongside the river flow.
There is also the possibility that the surplus water can hit unmelted ice on the river and back up. The flatness of the terrain and small slope of the river is a significant factor. The first known recorded accounts of floods along the Red River appeared in the s.
