MINOT, N.D. – The Souris River neared a lower-than-expected crest Saturday in Minot, where city officials hoped to ride out the high water without losing more than the thousands of homes already damaged by flooding.

The river had been expected to peak Saturday evening at some 8½ feet above major flood stage, but it leveled off hours earlier and the National Weather Service dropped the projection by nearly 2 feet as upstream flows weakened.

It was a brief boost for a city that has already taken a heavy blow. Mayor Curt Zimbelman said more than 4,000 homes had been flooded in an evacuation zone of neighborhoods nearest the river. About 11,000 people were ordered out during the last week.

Sgt. 1st Class David Dodds, a spokesman for North Dakota’s National Guard, said the situation had “kind of stabilized” Saturday. The Souris’ channel wasn’t getting any wider.

City spokesman Dean Lenertz said the city’s water, sewer and electric power systems were still working.

Souris surged past a 130-year-old record Friday and kept going.