He gained attention ( locally and - on a smaller scale - nationally ) in April 1997 , while coordinating the city 's efforts to fight the 1997 Red River Flood . After the flooding passed and the city was left mainly dry , Walaker was given some credit for the city 's preparations . He gained similar notice for coordinating the response to the 2009 Red River flood , issuing an evacuation order at the height of the flood that included only children and the disabled . Although the city had been urged by state and federal agencies to issue a complete evacuation order , Walaker disagreed , stating that " There 's just no way I could tell the people of the city of Fargo , after all the work they 'd done , to evacuate . " Walaker personally supervised the 2009 efforts in Fargo - described as " orchestrated primarily from inside City Hall " - by local volunteers working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers , the Federal Emergency Management Agency , the Coast Guard , and other federal agencies
2009 Red River flood
2009 Red River flood
Dennis Walaker