Presidential Disaster Declaration Approved
Includes Stutsman, Barnes Counties
KCSi-T.V. News
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today announced that the President has approved his request for a federal declaration for the State of North Dakota under the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance (Stafford) Act due to weather conditions and forecasts indicating a strong potential for severe spring flooding.
Because communities have already incurred expenses, the federal declaration coincides with the February 26 date of the Governor’s declaration, consistent with the President’s action in 2009. The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be elevated from Level 3 to Level 2 on Monday in anticipation of potential flooding, meaning all state agencies will staff EOC operations.
The State of North Dakota and multiple communities and counties are already allocating resources and preparing for widespread potential flooding. Based on the extensive flood preparedness efforts underway in communities throughout the state, the President granted the Governor’s request for direct federal assistance for emergency protective measures addressing property protection and public health and safety. These emergency protective measures include a range of assistance for communities to prepare for potential flooding.
In support of local and tribal jurisdictions, Hoeven requested direct federal assistance for emergency protective measures for 18 counties and one reservation. They include the Spirit Lake Nation reservation and the counties of Barnes, Benson, Burleigh, Cass, Dickey, Emmons, Foster, Grand Forks, LaMoure, Mercer, Nelson, Pembina, Ramsey, Ransom, Richland, Stutsman, Traill and Walsh. The Governor indicated to the President that as impacts emerge, additional counties may be added.
Conditions contributing to the threat of flooding and inundation include excessive precipitation throughout the fall and winter seasons causing saturated soil conditions; high water content in the current snowpack; full ponds and wetlands that result in minimal available surface storage; and the prospects of additional moisture and ice jams through the spring snowmelt.
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