Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com). Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it exclusively produces is in the public domain. March 27, 2009 North Dakota Residents Flee Record Flooding ------------------------------------------- http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=232C891:A6F02AD83191E160AE6B444F50A21A1DD937473925D9872C& Mandatory evacuation issued early Friday as precautionary measure, for 150 homes south of downtown Fargo Volunteers make their way back to road after volunteering to shore up dike in Fargo, 26 Mar 2009Authorities in the midwestern U.S. city of Fargo, North Dakota have evacuated residents from a neighborhood after a significant leak was found in a dike under pressure from record floodwaters. A mandatory evacuation order was issued early Friday morning for 150 homes south of downtown Fargo. Officials said there was no immediate danger of the dike collapsing, but they issued the order as a precautionary measure. The Red River, which runs through the city, broke a 112-year-old flood record early Friday, when it rose above the previous record at just over 12 meters. The National Weather Service predicts the river will crest at 13 feet on Saturday. Emergency workers, National Guard troops and volunteers have been working feverishly to construct makeshift dikes in an attempt to hold the rising waters. Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker says residents "want to go down swinging" (do not want! to give up without a fight) even if they are unable to prevent the city of 92,000 from being flooded. Authorities have already rescued dozens of people and evacuated others from flooded areas. Some roads and bridges have also been closed. The flat terrain of the Red River Valley means flood waters cover a wide area. U.S. President Barack Obama declared North Dakota a federal disaster area Tuesday, which means the federal government will pay 75 percent of the cost of flood-relief efforts by state and local governments. Some information for this report was provided by AP. .