Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Seth Johnson
ST. LOUIS – A Coast Guard airboat crew rescued five people as Coast Guard personnel, airboats and aircraft continue to assist in a multi-agency operation responding to heavy flooding along the Red River in North Dakota and Minnesota, Sunday.
The rescue occurred Saturday afternoon near Argusville, N.D., and involved one resident and four responders. There were no report of injuries.
The flood response operation is being led by the state of North Dakota, the state of Minnesota and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Coast Guard currently has a total of 51 people in the region to support this operation. There are two airboats, one helicopter, two Coast Guard Auxiliary communications units, an aircraft maintenance team, and a boat maintenance and support team on scene. Another helicopter is enroute and is awaiting favorable weather conditions. An additional 18 personnel comprise the incident management team located at Sector Upper Mississippi in St. Louis.
“Our primary goal is to provide the necessary support to the states of North Dakota and Minnesota,” said Capt. Steven Hudson, commander of Sector Upper Mississippi. “Our crews will work with our fellow agencies to conduct wellness checks and perform rescues and other critical functions to ensure the safety of the residents potentially affected by this flooding event.”
Due to the dangerous flood conditions and to protect levees from damage, Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi has a safety zone along the Red River to include Richland, Cass, Traill, Grand Forks, Walsh, and Pembina counties in North Dakota. All recreational vessel traffic is prohibited in these areas.
