Flood Memorial Monument in Grand Forks, North Dakota

Flood Memorial Monument in Grand Forks, North Dakota

The devistating 1997 Red River Flood caused the evacuation of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota.  Residents fled the two border towns as the river that divides them topped the dikes on April 18, 1997. Two days later, a fire destroyed a large portion of downtown Grand Forks. Firefighters could not fight the blaze due to low water pressure, and aerial firefighters made slurry drops from aircraft to extinguish the fires.   …