Jamestown city leaders say they have an advantage over Fargo... two flood control dams.

But as reporter Amber Schatz explains... they're still getting a jump-start on all spring flood possibilities.

(Bergquist) "It was truly the worst flooding event that this city and county had seen since the two flood control dams were built." Around 40 local, state and federal agencies worked hand in hand to manage record flooding in Jamestown last year

(Deery) "We thought it would never ever reach the spillway, and when they predicted it was going to, we were shocked, and eventually it did." Emergency workers were forced to release a record 3200 cubic feet per second from the Pipestem and James dams... something they can actually use to their advantage for this year

Jerry Bergquist/Stutsman Co. Emergency Manager 57:22 "when you've never been to that level before, you are really scrambling to get that information, and the Corps of Engineers and interstate engineering in Jamestown, helped a lot with producing that information, but now it's historical data so that gives us a lot of information to work with." Today, city leaders met with Congressional leaders on their flood outlook

Something locals in town are already gearing up for

(Leola Ringuette/south of Ypsilanti) "I'm just making sure my sump pump is in good condition and we're sandbagging down at my brothers, we plan to." Wayne Deery/Jamestown "I can't imagine it being as bad as '09... the snow I had in my backyard between the two houses was about 8 feet tall, and this year it's only 5 feet, laughs." Because of damage last year... repairs still need to be made to the sewer system and several roads... but officials say they have to move forward with 20-10 plans

(Bergquist) "At a minimum we're going to have elevated releases from the two dams, but for me to say that we're going to have a flood at this point, it's a little early in the game to say." Bergquist says they had a first meeting with the Corps of Engineers on Friday... But as for what the water releases will be... or if they need to plan on diking... Mother Nature may have the final answer

(Bergquist) "Last year we had a rainstorm in February, about an inch, inch and ahalf in March which occurred right at the snowmelt, so we were basically melting the entire snowpack at the same time." Amber Schatz KX News.

Jamestown officials say the Corps has told them to prepare for water releases similar to 1997... But on the positive side, the river systems are much more efficient this year. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list