FARGO, N.D. - Flooding levels on the Red River remain high, but residents can put their minds to rest knowing that National Guard members are constantly checking the dikes for leaks and weak points.
More than 340 members from the South Dakota Army National Guard (SDARNG) continue to assist with mitigation efforts.
Residents in Fargo, like Jim Burdine, have been organizing community watch systems, working side-by-side national guardsmen to ensure authorities are notified of problems along the dikes.
Unlike the flood of 1997, the 2009 flood brought about a "game plan," and individuals like Burdine took it upon himself to take action.
"We have meetings to update those in our neighborhood and over 1,000 meals have been served from our garage," said Burdine. "People have lost sleep and having Guardsmen here to give us a little breather really helps."
Members of the 153rd Engineer Battalion, Huron, S.D., rotate through 12-hour shifts at checkpoints throughout town. Their mission is to alert authorities if a leak or breach occurs on the dike as well as aid officials in reminding residents that homes near the dike are restricted after daylight hours.
"There is always someone watching the dikes and that helps put people at ease," said Pfc. Jess Krantz of Watertown, member of the139th Brigade Support Battalion SDARNG. "We have an important job that gives these people a chance to rest, and it makes us feel good to make up the difference."
Thousands of volunteers poured into the Fargodome Sunday morning to fill sandbags to build a surplus for emergency requirements.
Sandbagging was closed down over the weekend, because of overwhelming support and production throughout the week. More than 3.5 million sandbags have been filled and continue to hold back flood waters from the Red River.
"If we win this thing it's going to be because of the folks working here," said D.J. Guerrero a volunteer worker at the Fargodome. "I call them angels. The angels are going to win this for us."
Guerrero, a retired Marine who is actively involved in the community, has been working at the Fargodome since the city designated it for sandbagging operations early last week. He greets workers as they enter the bagging area and helps direct them to the right areas.
Guerrero appreciates the National Guard presence in Fargo. "It's great to see the uniformed Guardsmen in the crowd. That let's old men like me know we're covered and don't have to worry about being out on the dikes. We couldn't have asked for better replacements."