News Releases for November 2005
November 30, 2005
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Hoeven Tours Storm Damage In Southeast North Dakota
Meets With Local Officials In Fairmount, Hankinson And Lidgerwood
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today along with Maj. Gen. Mike Haugen, Adjutant General of the North Dakota National Guard and Sue Reinertson, Director of the Department of Emergency Services flew to Wahpeton and then traveled by vehicle to survey damages caused by recent severe winter storm.
"Although power has been restored in most of the region, there are still a number of areas without electricity," Hoeven said. "The city of Fairmount is one of our main concerns because power may not be restored until the weekend. We have been working with the state Department of Emergency Services and the North Dakota National Guard to bring additional assistance including more generators to the region."
The Governor has activated the North Dakota National Guard to assist the state Department of Transportation (DOT) and N.D. Highway Patrol (HP). The National Guard is currently providing generators to assist county officials in areas with power outages. Hoeven has also asked the DOT to provide additional plows to assist in clearing roads.
"The residents of southeast North Dakota have really come together to ensure that their people are safe and immediate needs are being met," Hoeven said. "Our Department of Transportation and the Highway Patrol have worked with local officials and first responders to assist local authorities and open roads to traffic. The Guard is working to ensure that electricity is available to keep municipal water systems running and temporary power is provided to warm homes enough to keep their pipes from freezing."
The Guard has provided six generators of various sizes to Fairmount for powering the Fire Hall, the Community Center and other facilities. The Community center is serving as a shelter for area citizens. In Hankinson, power has been restored but the Guard has provided generators to operate the water tower and lift station, which is on a separate power supply. Also, in both communities the Guard is working with local officials to make smaller generators available for homes without power in the surrounding rural areas. In both communities and in Kindred, additional DOT resources have helped with plowing and sanding.
Power companies are continuing to work overtime to provide electricity to those areas that are still without power. Citizens in Richland and Sargent counties without power can call the county emergency manager to request assistance for generator power.
"We appreciate the way North Dakotans pulled together to help each other in times of difficulty like we have had with this severe storm,' Hoeven said. "We will continue to provide resources to local and county officials to assist citizens with the recovery effort."
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