Grand Forks 1997 Flood Recovery: Recovery Takes Strong Leadership
Renewed, Rebuilt, Reborn
Before floodwaters even fully receded, the city, state and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were looking ahead to the recovery.
Commitments to rebuild were firm and resounding. Grand Forks Mayor Pat Owens, who captured the hearts of the nation with her candor and courage, pledged that the city would return better than ever and calmly but repeatedly urged residents to “Keep the Faith.”
Joint recovery teams set immediate priorities: Re-establish government and public safety first. Debris removal and restoration of gas and electrical power quickly began. The city’s crippled water treatment plant was brought back on line enough to restore running water in 13 days; drinkable water in 23 days.
The city methodically let residents and business owners back in to survey their losses and to begin cleanup. Neighbors helped neighbors, and key businesses vowed to return.
Local elected officials soon learned one of the hardest lessons of disaster recovery: The decisions they’d make would be endless, difficult, often contentious and for some, politically fatal.
Yet each decision was based on what was right for the community-at-large and was essential to move Grand Forks forward.
Leaders wrestled with such topics as: Should the initial focus be the recovery of residences or businesses? Should they relax city codes to spur rebuilding? How could the tax base be restored? Whose homes would be rebuilt, relocated or demolished? Which neighborhoods could be preserved and which must be laid to rest in order to protect the entire community in the future?
To jumpstart the long-term recovery, elected officials were joined by community leaders, business owners and individuals who shared a vision and a passion for bringing the city back.
They worked hand-in-hand with state and federal partners, tapping the vast experience and resources government can provide.
They established forums for community input and strived to keep citizens informed about the recovery progress, even when the news was bad.
They balanced essential short-term needs with longer-range planning.
They allowed themselves to “re-imagine” the city and create areas that could be different and inviting.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 18-Apr-2007 15:16:18 EDT