Breckenridge homeowner caught on the wrong side of flood protection

Vance Johnson's home is far from the waters of the Red River; his farm is about a mile east of the city. But he still has to watch the rising overland waters and wait anxiously for them to go down.

VANCE JOHNSON/HOMEOWNER: "It's an eerie feeling driving down a driveway you can't see, so..."

Creeping, nearly still overland flood waters rose, seeping through almost every shed on this rural Wilkin County farm, and just feet away from their house overnight.

VANCE: "This is the worst it's been, other than '97."

But it is not because the raging Red River is next door or because overland waters can't be stopped. The reason for this massive amount of water is the highway 210 dike that was just put up yesterday because otherwise, this water drains right over the highway. So basically by holding the water out, they're doing the county a favor.

VANCE: "After they diked it, I was concerned, but not overly because it looked like it was going to go over other parts of 210 before it hit me anyway."

And this new found lake is throwing a wrench into weekend plans.

VANCE: "We're in the process of moving. We moved mom out last weekend, and we're moving in this weekend."

So instead of diking help, this farmer may be looking for other kinds of helping hands.

VANCE: "If you're not moving sandbags, we got furniture!"

Wilkin County's Highway Engineer, Tom Richels, talked to the Johnson's after the dike was put up and said that if the high water was forcing the family to sandbag, that they would send workers and sandbaggers to the house to help. But right now, Johnson is going to test the odds, and hold off.

Tags: stephanie goetz, flood, breckenridge, news, vance, johnson, home