Flooding a $1 Billion Headache for North Dakota

July 15, 2011

The commander of the North Dakota National Guard says flood-related costs in the state are expected to top $1 billion.

Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk told state lawmakers that officials are prepared to handle the state share through a disaster relief fund established by the Legislature. He says if more money is needed it could be borrowed from the Bank of North Dakota and paid back later. The federal government also will pay a big chunk of the bill.

Major flooding hit the Red, Souris and Missouri river valleys this year.

“We were dealing with flooding on Memorial Day, we were dealing with it on the Fourth of July, and we’ll be dealing with it on Labor Day,” said State Engineer Todd Sando.

More than 4,100 Minot, N.D., homes were damaged in June by Souris River floodwaters, and more than 11,000 people had to leave their homes.

Minot Area Community Foundation President Ken Kitzman says $2 million has been donated to the Minot Area Recovery Fund since it began less than three weeks ago.

Kitzman says both individuals and companies from across the country have contributed to the fund, which will help with relief and restoration efforts in the greater Minot area, including the counties of Ward, Renville, Bottineau and McHenry.

Kitzman stressed that more money will need to be raised to help the many families and individuals impacted by the flooding.

North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple said individual flood aid from the federal government is being extended to more areas.

Dalrymple said Barnes, Ramsey and Richland counties and the Spirit Lake Nation reservation have been added to the list of areas in which private home and business owners might be eligible for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Individual aid previously was approved in the counties of Ward, Burleigh, Morton, Renville and McHenry.

Dalrymple says he’ll continue to push for individual assistance for even more counties.

North Dakota suffered more damage from violent storms on July 10. The Bismarck Tribune reported that law enforcement confirmed a tornado near Ashley that toppled a barn. The National Weather Service said law enforcement also confirmed tornadoes on the ground at Oakes, Monango and near Napoleon.

A grain elevator in Monango lost part of a roof. A farm and dog kennel south of Napoleon suffered heavy damage. WDAY-TV reports that the Oakes airport also was severely damaged. The Forum reports other damage in the two towns, as well as in Ellendale, Forbes and Fullerton.

There also were numerous reports of downed trees and damaged crops and grain bins in the region, along with widespread power outages.

Topics Flood

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