News Releases for June 2007
June 07, 2007
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Hoeven Tours Flood Damage In Southeastern North Dakota
Governor Meets With Residents, Farmers, Local Officials In Wyndmere, Fargo
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven, along with state, county and city officials today assessed flood damage on the ground in cities and towns in southeastern North Dakota. An planned aerial tour was cancelled owing to severe weather in the region.
Hoeven on Monday issued a disaster declaration for impacts resulting from heavy rainfall that is causing river and small stream flooding, and damage to roads, bridges, farmland, homes and businesses in the Red River Valley Basin and throughout the state. The action came preparatory to a request for a secretarial or presidential disaster declaration from the federal government, which would provide low interest loans and make income averaging available to producers and businesses in the affected region.
“Our state agencies are working around the clock with emergency managers in all the involved counties, so that they can do a total damage assessment,” Hoeven said. “We’re concerned about the impact on our communities, farmers and rural infrastructure; based on our evaluation today, we think we will reach the threshold for a federal secretarial or presidential disaster declaration to provide help.”
The threshold for a Presidential Disaster Declaration is $1 million. If the President declares the area a disaster, local governments could receive federal grants to cover 75 percent of the public property damages. State and local governments would provide the remaining 25 percent. Farmers and ranchers may be eligible for low interest loans and income averaging to mitigate the cost of the damage. Homeowners need to contact their local emergency managers and work with their insurance companies.
State agencies involved in the flood response in the Red River Valley and southeastern North Dakota include the Governor’s Office, Dept. of Emergency Services, ND Highway Patrol (NDHP), ND Department of Human Services (NDDHS), ND National Guard (NDNG), State Water Commission (SWC), the N.D. Game and Fish Department and the ND Department of Transportation (NDDOT).
Today is the Governor’s second visit to the area. He was in Wahpeton, Fargo and Oakes over the weekend, where he reviewed conditions on the ground and offered state assistance to local officials.
Also on Monday, Hoeven contacted Col. Michael Pfenning of the Army Corps of Engineers to request assistance in constructing earthen dikes on Second Street North near City Hall in Fargo. They were completed by Wednesday.
Following is a partial summary of the situation and actions to date. The Governor and state officials will provide updates during the course of the day.
- On June 5, 2007, U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency submitted a flash situation report, reporting 1,930 farms totaling 440,000 acres of cropland impacted by heavy rain and flooding in Richland County.
- The Governor's disaster declaration orders utilization of the State Emergency Operations Plan thereby allowing the use of state resources to respond to flooding that is occurring in the Red River basin and throughout North Dakota.
- The following documents were signed by the Governor on Monday, June 4:
- State Flood Disaster Declaration
- National Guard Activation Letter
- USACE Request Letter for assistance for Fargo and communities within the Red River Basin as necessary.
- The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has declared an emergency in southeastern North Dakota due to
heavy rains and saturated soil conditions that have caused state highway flooding. NDDOT will be providing temporary
grade raises that will allow water impeded roadways to be passable. All state highways currently remain
passable. The weather and the current flooding conditions may cause motorists to unexpectedly encounter
water on the roadway.
Roadways experiencing flooding as of Wednesday evening include:- ND Highway 46 has water over the road on a 1,500-foot stretch at mile point 14 east of Gackle. The NDDOT is working to immediately repair the area by constructing a temporary grade raise to restore the roadway to safe travel condition. Signs and flaggers are in place to assist traffic through the high water area.
- ND Highway 11 also experienced water over the roadway. NDDOT personnel are currently constructing a grade raise on approximately 200 feet of roadway on mile point 135 near Forman, N.D, to ensure safe travel through the area. Currently, one lane is passable, and workers will have another lane finished by tonight. Signs and flaggers are on site to assist traffic.
- ND Highway 18 does not currently have water over the highway; however, the water is very close to the highway edge in the Wyndmere and Lidgerwood area and the NDDOT is watching the roadway to ensure it remains passable. Signs are in place to warn motorists passing through the area.
- Temporary grade raises have been conducted allowing impeded roadways to be passable. Current forecast indicates additional rain and high winds which may cast water and debris onto the roadway.
- The Sargent County Commission and City of Milnor submitted emergency declarations to the N.D. Department of Emergency Services on Tuesday, June 5.
- The LaMoure County Commission met on Tuesday, June 5, and issued a Flood Disaster Declaration for LaMoure County citing flood damages to transportation infrastructure and homes.
- Flood warnings continue in the Red River Valley for Ransom, Richland and Sargent Counties.
- The Flood warning continues for the Red River at Fargo. Moderate flooding is occurring and major flooding is
forecast.
- Flood stage is 18 feet, moderate flood stage is 25 feet and major flood stage is 30 feet.
- The forecast is for the Red River to rise to a level of 33 feet early Saturday morning.
- FEMA Region VIII has deployed a State Support Team to the North Dakota State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Bismarck, ND. The four-person team is in Bismarck and will work with emergency managers in the state.
- Region VIII is activating its Regional Response Coordination Center in Denver, Colo. to support FEMA’s State Support Team in North Dakota.
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