Federal, State, And Local Partnerships Key To Flood Fighting In North Dakota
Release Date: March 25, 2009
Release Number: 1829-001
» More Information on North Dakota Severe Storms and Flooding
BISMARCK, N.D. -- The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and numerous federal and state partners are continuing to join forces to support North Dakota communities facing severe flood threats.
On Tuesday, President Obama declared a major disaster declaration for North Dakota. The President's action made federal funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations to help in flood fighting efforts.
Prior to the disaster declaration, North Dakota's State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) was operating around the clock with support from FEMA's Region VIII (Denver) Emergency Response Team (ERT), the national Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT-West), the National Guard, the American Red Cross, and other federal partners including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
"This is a true state, local, and federal effort, with volunteers and private citizens all doing their part," said Governor John Hoeven. "We truly appreciate everyone's hard work as well as their cooperation and commitment which is necessary to save lives and property."
"We are reaching out to the governor and local leaders to make sure we are responding to them quickly and efficiently," said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall. "These activities are an example of FEMA's commitment to engage partnerships between federal, tribal, state and local governments, volunteer organizations and the private sector."
In each case, state and local resources are addressing the most immediate needs as federal resources support their efforts:
- FEMA is preparing to ship eight truckloads of ready-to-eat meals, three truckloads of water, 50 emergency generators, one truckload of cots, and one truckload of blankets.
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deployed more than 130 personnel and have issued three million sandbags, 310 rolls of poly, HESCO Bastion flood walls and pre-positioned 12 water pumps.
- More than 900 North Dakota National Guard troops have provided sandbagging support in Fargo, Grand Forks, and Bismarck. Guard members have been assisting with evacuations and are poised to continue those efforts as needed. National Guard air operations are supporting the movement of aircraft to stage in key areas of the state and providing aerial support for remedying ice jams in west-central and eastern North Dakota.
- The American Red Cross (ARC) has deployed 31 Emergency Response Vehicles to support sandbagging operations with food and water. ARC has stocked 55,000 meals, 3,200 comfort kits, 3,200 cots and 6,500 blankets in addition to 12 sheltering teams. Locally, Red Cross personnel have been helping to open shelters, assisting with evacuations, providing community feeding and distributing cleanup kits.
- The Salvation Army has been providing community feeding in five North Dakota counties along with supplying cleanup kits in impacted areas. In the Fargo (ND)- Moorhead (MN) area alone, 58 volunteers have served more than 5,458 meals.
- Wednesday morning (March 25), U.S. Coast Guard personnel rescued nine people, including one from a tree, in Oxbow, ND (south of Fargo) as part of the agency's overall support mission. To date, Coast Guard assets to North Dakota include: two Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs), each comprised of three boats and 15 personnel (one in Fargo, one in Bismarck); three boats and two helicopters positioned in Grand Forks, four Airboats from Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin positioned in Fargo and Bismarck and a helicopter. A second helicopter is en route to Bismarck Wednesday from New Orleans.
- The North Dakota Highway Patrol has been assisting with security and road closures in key areas of the state.
- The North Dakota Health Department is supporting Richland County with tetnus shots and cleanup kits to test water quality/wells.
- The North Dakota Department of Transportation has been working to reroute rail service in impacted areas, identifying alternative bus routes among cities and determining needed road closures.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, based in Grand Forks, N.D., maintains three fixed-wing aircraft, four helicopters, and one Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) which are on standby to assist in the federal response.
While federal, state, and local partners continue to coordinate and prepare, FEMA urges residents in flood prone areas to continue to monitor weather forecasts, heed emergency information from state and local officials and to take their own precautions as needed. There are steps individuals can take now to protect their families during a flood event:
- Have an emergency plan for your family and pets along with a "go'' kit that includes copies of key documents like insurance policies, a household inventory of possessions, medications and contact numbers.
- Listen for announcements from local emergency managers regarding evacuation orders, sheltering locations and personal readiness actions.
- Avoid areas already flooded, especially if the water is flowing fast. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams. Do not walk or drive through flooded streets.
- Flood waters often contain raw sewage, so keep children away from these hazards.
- Roadbeds may be washed out under flood waters. NEVER drive through flooded roadways. If your vehicle is suddenly caught in rising water, leave it immediately and seek higher ground.
For more information on how you can prepare for all hazards, please visit www.fema.gov and www.ready.gov.
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
Last Modified: Thursday, 26-Mar-2009 08:35:31