Volunteers in North Dakota filled thousands of sandbags on Tuesday in the hopes of avoiding some of the damage from the fast-rising waters of the Red River. Contractors also constructed clay levees to help protect nearby homes from the murky waters.

High school student Aline Bisimwa lifts a sandbag on Tuesday in south Fargo, N.D. as she and many other area students assisted in Red River flood fighting efforts. (Jay Pickthorn/Associated Press)

Officials don't expect the river to get as high as last year's record flood, but near Fargo and neighbouring Moorhead, Minn., the river is forecast to crest Sunday about six metres above the flood stage.

The waters flowing over the river's banks could threaten several houses, roads and parks, officials say.

"The citizens are out there working hard and doing a great job," North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven said Tuesday.

Many here are fairly optimistic that they're ready for the flood.

"We're all feeling pretty calm compared to last year," Marc Shannon said Monday while preparing to build a sandbag dike in his backyard.

U.S. President Barack Obama earlier signed a federal emergency decree for the area and hundreds of National Guard members have been mobilized to help deal with the rising water.

Meanwhile, local volunteers are building dikes and piling sandbags to try and prevent the Red River from swamping the city.

"I think the psyche of everybody involved is they couldn't believe it was going to happen again," said Dennis Walaker, the mayor of Fargo.

With college students on spring break, Fargo had to rely more heavily than ever on high school students, including sophomores Lucas Raile, right, and Garrett Irwin, to fill and place sandbags. (Jay Pickthorn/Associated Press)

Shortage of volunteers

Walaker said a shortage of volunteers has been a concern, as thousands of university students are away on spring break.

But high school students are stepping in to help pile sandbags and build dikes and city officials are also using high-tech tools, including global positioning systems and helicopters to track water levels.

Last year, thousands of people were evacuated after the Red River rose above the flood stage for a record 61 days and crested twice.

Officials said they are better prepared this year for flooding thanks to early stockpiling of sandbags and the building of stronger levees across the region.

In Minnesota, Gov. Tim Pawlenty declared a state of emergency Monday in 28 counties affected by potential flooding across western, southern, central and eastern parts of the state.

With files from the CBC