March 30, 2009--Family dog Elsie stands on a sandbag dike surrounding a home (not pictured) in Fargo, North Dakota, on March 25 as a nearby outbuilding sits largely submerged in icy floodwaters.

Spring storms mixed with melting winter snows to spur record flooding of the Red River late last week. Thousands of U.S. National Guard troops, along with residents and volunteers, have been engaged in a massive sandbagging effort to fortify levees in Fargo and other affected towns.

Floodwaters were retreating as of Monday, but residents were being told to brace for an oncoming storm expected to bring up to 14 inches (35.5 centimeters) of snow and strong winds that could cause waves to pummel fortifications, according to the Associated Press.

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