Uncommon heroes: The city of Grand Forks flood fight, 1997

To describe and occurrence or an event as "unique" has become commonplace. so frequenty do writers rely upon the word, few readers even questions its use. Yet in reflecting on the Red River of the North, the flood that overspread its valley in the spring of 1997 and the human response that followed, no other word comes to mind. This north-flowing river stands unique among the world's as does the valley, and the flood. Uncommon heroes is offered as a tribure to the men and women who fought the most courageous battles: The deluge which struck the cities of Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota On April 18-19, 1997 after weeks of sasnbagging and reinforcing clay dikes, the twin communities were overwhelmend by an unprecedented 54-foot river crest and a dramatic fire which burned eleven histroric downtown buildings.