News Releases for April 2004
April 7, 2004
Contact: Rick Robinson, ND Division of Emergency Management (701) 328-8136
State And Federal Teams Inspect Flood-Damaged Counties In Northeastern North Dakota
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven announced today that representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will join local and state officials in compiling a Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) report on areas affected by recent flooding in the northeastern part of the state.
Three teams will begin site inspections today, concentrating primarily on the hardest-hit areas of Grand Forks, Pembina and Walsh counties. Inspections of homes and businesses are expected to take approximately 3 to 5 days to complete.
“We are pursuing all possible means to help those impacted by the recent flooding,” Hoeven said. “These inspections are the first step in evaluating damages and determining if there are any federal programs that could assist with the cost of recovery.”
Inspection teams will consist of representatives from local emergency management, the state Department of Human Services, the U.S. Small Business Administration and FEMA. They will visit a sampling of damaged properties in affected areas to access the impact on individuals and businesses, and the damage to public infrastructure.
“We wish to thank local officials and voluntary agencies for all their hard work in helping affected people and communities get back on their feet after this latest round of flooding,” said Doug Friez, director of the North Dakota Division of Emergency Management. “Once again, they have done an outstanding job in responding to the unpredictable forces of Mother Nature.”
The PDA is a measure of damages. It does not guarantee that federal assistance will be available. In the event of a presidential disaster declaration, all individuals in the designated counties will have an opportunity to register for disaster assistance, regardless of whether they were contacted during the assessment phase.
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