Fargo prepares for annual Red River flood fight

FARGO, N.D. – Volunteers came from near and far — and behind bars — to help with the first day of sandbagging operations in Fargo.

With a third straight major flood predicted along the Red River in Fargo and neighboring Moorhead, Minn., the voluntary preparations at a city warehouse dubbed "Sandbag Central" are starting early this year.

More than 20 inmates from the Cass County jail were on hand when Sandbag Central opened at 8 a.m. Monday. Another volunteer, Ryan Skarka, says he drove about 50 miles from Detroit Lakes, Minn., to help fill sandbags.

Floods in the area have sent business- and home-owners scrambling the past two years. The weather service says there is a 20 percent chance the river will this spring surpass the record crest set in 2009.