Minot Marks Five-Year Flood Anniversary

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — The city of Minot is planning a Wednesday ceremony to mark the five-year anniversary of the day Souris River floodwaters first breached the city's dike system.

Warning sirens sounded on June 22, 2011, as flooding inundated a large part of North Dakota's fourth-largest city. The flooding was caused by excessive snowmelt and rainfall in the basin, and eventually caused more than $700 million in damage.

A community ceremony is scheduled at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Oak Park Amphitheater. Mayor Chuck Barney will be one of the speakers. He says "looking back is the best way to move forward."

A moment of silence will be observed at 12:57, the moment the sirens sounded five years ago. City leaders will then discuss the status of recovery efforts, which are ongoing.