04.25.18

Hoeven: FEMA Announces Valley City to Keep Its Floodwall

Senator Worked to Pass Legislation to Enable City to Keep Floodwall

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has officially announced that Valley City can keep its floodwall. Last month, Hoeven passed legislation enabling Valley City to keep an existing floodwall near Valley City State University that was inadvertently built on land acquired using FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). 

“As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I worked to pass legislation to enable Valley City to keep its floodwall, which will help ensure long term flood protection for the community and provide residents with security and peace of mind,” said Hoeven. “Today’s FEMA announcement makes it official, which is very good news for the community.” 

Under FEMA policy, no permanent structure can be built on land that has been bought out by FEMA. Specifically, Hoeven’s provision authorizes FEMA to allow Valley City to retain flood protection systems inadvertently built on HMGP land.

Last year, Hoeven secured a similar provision enabling Drayton to keep its levee. 

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