News Releases for April 2005
April 22, 2005
Contact: Rick Robinson, (701) 328-8100
FEMA Assistance To Valley City Restored
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today received word from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that it has ruled in favor of North Dakota regarding contested disaster assistance for Valley City's water and sewer facilities, which were damaged in a 1999 flood. In 2002, FEMA sought to recover $1.3 million it had awarded the city in disaster assistance. The state appealed and today FEMA agreed.
“This is good news for Valley City,” said Hoeven. “Valley City had made appropriate repairs based on funding advice from FEMA. That decision was reversed in May 2003. We are pleased that FEMA officials have made final review of the projects and agree that the damages were due to flooding during the spring of 1999.”
The Valley City projects had been questioned by FEMA reviewers because of difficulties associated with determining the extent of damage to the facility due to flooding versus normal system deterioration.
Valley City officials, with support from State Emergency Management staff, provided information to FEMA indicating the negative impacts of flooding on the system.
“The repairs made by Valley City replaced cracked sewer line and relocated a force main, which will help prevent future repetitive damages and loss of use due to flooding,” said Doug Friez, State Emergency Management Director.
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