Pembina holds its own against cresting rivers
Pembina, N.D. (AP)
This border town was holding its own Sunday against the cresting Red and Pembina rivers, and dike workers had time to think about a few personal needs. Like toothbrushes.

"This past 24 hours has been the first time since this crisis began that we didn’t have any major dike leaks or anything like that, and the workers weren’t building," said county spokesman Andrew Thostenson.

The earthen dike that encircles the city, which has been fortified by sandbags, seemed to be largely holding as the crest of the Red River began rolling past this weekend.

"They had a big turkey dinner on the second floor of the schoolhouse last night, provided by the Salvation Army," he said. "The only request we had this morning was that they wanted toothbrushes."

National Guard members at a checkpoint about 2 miles south of Pembina finally got time to ask for portable toilets, he said.

"When people start think about those things," he added, "it’s a good sign."

The National Weather Service said the Red and Pembina Rivers were cresting Sunday at Pembina, where they meet heading north into Canada, about two miles away.

About 25 people were evacuated Saturday night from the small town of LeRoy, about 30 west of Pembina. Thostenson said about nine homes had water in their basements and the homeowners wanted to get out because the river current was so strong.

"There’s no structural damage to their homes. It seems to be a cleanup problem and not a destruction problem," he said.

Between 85 and 100 National Guard members have been working in the county to maintain checkpoints and help people evacuate.