The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, awarded contracts to build temporary emergency levees in Fargo, N.D.
On April 18, the St. Paul District, Corps of Engineers awarded two contracts for the Fargo area. H&S Contracting Inc. and Tunheim Construction LLC, both of Moorhead, Minn., were awarded contracts to build to a levee height of 44 feet. Construction of these levees began on April 22.
Depending on actual river crests, the Corps could build anywhere from 4 to 7 miles of levees. In addition, the St. Paul District awarded a contract to R.J. Zavoral & Sons on April 22 for temporary levee construction in Grafton, N.D. Construction of those levees began today.
While there are inherent risks associated with all levee systems, emergency levees constructed during a flood fight are not engineered structures and are intended to be temporary. Local officials should still have evacuation plans in place in the event of an emergency.
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Press Release, April 24, 2013