04.11.11

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

After Winning Flood Fight in Fargo, Many Flooded Communities Need Additional Federal Support

Washington – 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.