US prepared to shelter 30,000 flood victims

The US government is bracing itself to care for up to 30,000 people fleeing record flooding in the country's northern plains, a top official has said.

The US government is bracing itself to care for up to 30,000 people fleeing record flooding in the country's northern plains, a top official has said.

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US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said amid "historically unprecedented" flooding in the Red River valley region between the states of Minnesota and North Dakota, the federal government had readied itself to house and feed 30,000 people for up to a week.

"In the worst case scenario we could be dealing with 80,000 to 100,000 people evacuated," Napolitano told reporters on Friday, adding the vast majority would likely stay with family or friends.