Damage Site Surveys Underway
Release Date: June 26, 2001
Release Number: 1376-02
» More Information on North Dakota Floods
Bismark, ND -- Personnel from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state of North Dakota have joined with local officials to survey damage in 27 counties and two Indian reservations. The teams are writing workplans to repair damage to public infrastructure caused by severe storms and flooding this spring, as well as problems created by the high water tables.
"High water around the state continues to cause problems - especially with roads, flooding some, while weakening others to the point of making them impassable," said Doug Friez, director of the North Dakota Division of Emergency Management. "The inspections are the first step in the process of making necessary repairs and restoring roads that provide a vital link between communities in the state."
In addition to roads, the FEMA/state teams will be looking at other damage, such as washed out culverts, inundated sewer lagoons and damaged bridges. For projects that are eligible for the Public Assistance Program, the cost share is 75 percent federal, 10 percent state and 15 percent local.
"The Public Assistance Program provides needed assistance in counties hard hit by flooding," said Federal Coordinating Officer Steve Emory, the lead federal official in North Dakota. "For areas that have seen repetitive damage, repairs can be a financial drain. We are here to provide a helping hand to North Dakota."
FEMA's Public Assistance Program provides assistance to state and local governments for damage to public structures and facilities. Assistance can include reimbursement for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and costs to repair or replace roads, bridges and other public facilities damaged by the recent storms and flooding. Funding may be available to state agencies, local governments and certain eligible nonprofit agencies.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 21-Oct-2003 11:29:50