News Releases for March 2009
March 23, 2009
For further information, please Contact the Governor's Office
State Resources Supporting Flood Fight Efforts
BISMARCK, N.D. - Pursuant to the statewide emergency flood disaster declaration issued by Gov. John Hoeven on March 13, 2009, the N.D. Department of Emergency Services, N.D. National Guard, N.D. Department of Transportation and other agencies are assisting in flood fighting efforts around the state of North Dakota. These actions follow state preparation efforts coordinated with local authorities, as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA.
Fargo
Hoeven has mobilized 500 members of the National Guard, 350 of which are assisting flood fighting efforts in Fargo, including filling and positioning sandbags around the community, assisting with traffic control, and operating trucks and excavation equipment to assist with dike work. The Guard is also providing HESCO barriers, prefabricated sand retaining walls, as an expedited replacement for sandbags in critical areas.
In addition, the state DOT is helping with traffic management, including detours where roads are flooded. Emergency Management personnel are continuing to coordinate local, state and federal efforts in Fargo. Major volunteer efforts by the Fargo public schools and NDSU are helping to fill sandbags and assist with prevention efforts.
Hoeven has authorized supervisors in state and local government agencies to allow employees in non-essential services to volunteer for flood mitigation efforts. Hoeven will waive school days missed if school administrators dismiss high school and college students to participate in the statewide flood response effort.
At this point, the National Weather Service expects a crest on the Red River of the North of between 39 and 41 feet by Friday, both higher and earlier than anticipated.
Due to the magnitude and severity of the flood threat, Hoeven has asked for an expedited presidential disaster declaration, following the statewide emergency flood declaration he issued earlier on March 13.
Wahpeton
The National Guard is also assisting with flood fighting efforts in Wahpeton and Richland County. Approximately 40 Guard members, along with DOT and DES personnel, are on site. Members are performing dike patrols along the Red River and assisting with problems caused by overland and tributary flooding throughout Richland County due to a rainfall Sunday night of 2 to 3 inches in some areas. The state also has National Guard equipment in the area helping to break up ice jams; a National Guard sandbagging machine is being sited there to help with sandbagging efforts.
The crest of the Red in Wahpeton is anticipated to reach 18 1/2 feet as early as tomorrow, according to the National Weather Service.
Linton
The community of Linton is experiencing flooding from Beaver Creek. More than 20 families living west of Highway 83 are being evacuated with National Guard assistance. National Guard soldiers, Highway Patrol, and DOT personnel are providing traffic management and other services in Linton due to flooding of Highway 83 and other roadways.
Hoeven was in Fargo, Wahpeton and Linton today working with state, local and federal officials on the flood fighting effort.
Additional flood impacts and actions include:
- National Guard air evacuations of individuals stranded by flooding in Grant County.
- Water is rising on the Knife River, causing the evacuation of about 40 families in Beulah.
- The City of Mott has experienced flooding in low-lying areas, and 14 homes have been evacuated.
- Residents of Fox Island in Bismarck are being asked to voluntarily evacuate due to ice jams on the Missouri River.
- The Army Corps of Engineers is working in Jamestown and Valley City to make sure there are adequate dikes and levees for potential flood problems in those communities.
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