Conrad, Hoeven Press FEMA for Additional Aid for Flood-Impacted Communities

Press Release

After returning from an inspection of the successful flood fight in Fargo over the weekend, Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven today pressed Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate to deliver badly needed federal support to help North Dakota communities pay for the costs of the flood fight and recovery.

In a letter to Administrator Fugate, the Senators called for additional federal assistance as outlined in the state's formal request for assistance. The additional assistance could be obtained by altering the date of the President's Emergency Declaration. The Senators urged the date be moved to mid-February, when flood fight preparations began in earnest.

"Cass County is inundated, with 60 miles of roads that are impassable due to rising water from several rivers, some of which have reached record levels. Yesterday, a large stretch of Interstate 29 north of Fargo was closed due to the flooding. In Barnes County, area dams are being severely stressed. We, along with the local officials, continue to be very concerned about the limited declaration approved by the President to aid in the spring flood fight. The declaration falls far short of what was requested by the state, and it does not provide all the resources needed from the federal government to respond," the Senators wrote.

This past weekend, Senators Conrad and Hoeven were joined by state, local and federal officials to inspect the ongoing flood protection efforts in Cass and Barnes County. Despite the inspired efforts of state and local leaders, Senators Conrad and Hoeven said additional federal assistance was needed to assist communities with the costs of building levees and other flood protection measures as well as cleanup and recovery efforts in affected communities.

Last week, North Dakota's Congressional Delegation announced $50 million in federal resources to bolster roadways in and around the communities most susceptible to flood damage, including those in the Red River Valley and the James River and Devils Lake Basins.

Dear Administrator Fugate:

We write about the ongoing flooding disaster in North Dakota and request that you immediately approve the additional federal assistance to the State of North Dakota as outlined in its February 25 request.

We spent this weekend in North Dakota meeting with local officials and viewing the flood preparations in the cities of Fargo and Valley City and the counties of Cass and Barnes. The Red River crested in Fargo on Saturday at the fourth highest level in history, and it is expected to remain above major flood stage for at least three weeks. Cass County is inundated, with 60 miles of roads that are impassable due to rising water from several rivers, some of which have reached record levels. Yesterday, a large stretch of Interstate 29 north of Fargo was closed due to the flooding. In Barnes County, area dams are being severely stressed. We, along with the local officials, continue to be very concerned about the limited declaration approved by the President to aid in the spring flood fight. The declaration falls far short of what was requested by the state, and it does not provide all the resources needed from the federal government to respond.

The National Weather Service began issuing flood forecasts in December 2010, predicting significant flooding for the region. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, recognizing the strong potential for record flooding, began its preparations in January. Cities, counties and tribal governments across the state took immediate, responsible, and reasonable action in anticipation of the significant flooding potential noted by the National Weather Service flood forecast, a forecast that continued to worsen each month. Significant local expenditures were made to build clay and sandbag levees to ensure the region was protected. These wise and prudent steps were taken based on the flood forecasts and were exactly the right thing to do. If not taken, the region would have been at significant risk and the impact to the federal government to aid in the recovery would have been far greater.

It is imperative that the date for the declaration be modified to reflect the start of flood preparation efforts statewide, which began in earnest on February 14 and to encompass the flooding event that occurred on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation. Additionally, the scope of the declaration must be expended to include all category B Public Assistance to ensure these communities receive federal assistance for the expenditures made to prepare for this event as well as those costs that will be incurred in the clean-up. As the flood on the Red River shifts north and other rivers in the state continue rising, those counties requested by the state must be added immediately to the declaration.

We ask that you act on the remaining portions of the state's request without further delay.

Sincerely,

KENT CONRAD JOHN HOEVEN

United States Senate United States Senate

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