WAHPETON (AP) - Wahpeton officials say they learned a lesson after a 7-inch rain flooded residents on the city's south side.

At a special Tuesday night meeting, members of the city's Public Works Committee said pumps will be started sooner when water fills the streets, and they plan to replace solid manhole covers with grated covers in low areas, to provide more relief from flooding.

"When water has risen in the street, then the water will also flow into those grates as well as into the inlets in the curb," City Engineer Randy Nelson said.

"It may again help get water off the street sooner, or dry it up sooner, or possibly keep water from backing up," he said.

Tuesday night's meeting followed a City Council meeting Monday night at which residents presented a petition asking for better flood protection.

City Coordinator Shawn Kessel said the city is updating its emergency response plan and asked for residents' help. He suggested a community watch group.

Some residents asked whether it should be their job to keep watch on the streets. Public Works Committee member Lane Wateland said it's city's job.

"At 2 inches of rain, somebody from the street department better be on the south side of town and starting to get the ponding out of the streets," Wateland said. "They're not going to go through this again. As long as I'm sitting here, they're not going to go through this again."

Residents also said they wanted a phone number of an official to call.

Amy Bergstrom, choking back tears, said nearly every intense rain of 2 inches or more destroys her yard. Bergstrom was one of about 50 residents who attended the Tuesday night meeting.

"We just need help," she told city officials.

"We pretty much need it now," said another resident, Duane Held. "I need to know that I can leave town and not have to come home to what I had to this time," he said.

"We want a phone number on who we can call. We'll let you know when we need the pumps down there and you better get down there, boys, because it's awful hot," Held said.

Kessel provided his cell phone number and said the city will improve its response.

Another meeting is planned in about two weeks.