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National Guard Heads To Crookston To Help With Flooding

CROOKSTON, Minn. (WCCO) -- Fast-rising waters quickly filled parts of northwestern Minnesota and the Dakotas over the weekend.

After storms hit Polk County, the Red Lake River ran over, flooding many people's homes.

The Minnesota National Guard announced Monday afternoon that 51 soldiers with the 134th Brigade Support Battalion in Little Falls are headed up to the area to help and get the community ready for even more problems this week. The river is expected to crest on Thursday.

Crookston flooding
(credit: CBS)

"It's very scary, especially with myself. I lived in Grand Forks during the '97 flood, and it kind of brings back memories of all that pain of losing a lot of things over there as well," Crookston resident Karen Swatlowski said.

Several counties, including Polk, have already declared a state of emergency.

For the time being, community facilities, like a sports center, are being used as makeshift shelters.

There was also a tornado in Crookston this weekend. The National Weather Service confirmed a twister tore across some farm fields Saturday night, tracking about half a mile.

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