North Dakotans Flee Epic Flood

A mandatory evacuation announcement was made June 21 for all residents in the evacuation zones in the city of Minot, North Dakota. All residents within certain zones needed to be out of heir homes by 6 p.m. June 22 because of an imminent flood. Residents were advised to gather their final items and evacuate. Sand and sandbags were made available to them to protect their houses.

Cecily Fong, public information officer at the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services said in a telephone interview, “One third of the City of Minot area which is about 11,000 must be evacuated and another 1,000 from Burlington, North Dakota is under an evacuation order. There is a large amount of rain from Saskatchewan, a city in Canada, which is on the border of North Dakota. The flow of water on a normal basis is around 100 cfs (cubic feet per second) but currently it is measured at 33,000 cfs.”

“People are evacuating in an orderly fashion and remaining calm,” Fong said. “The crest is expected around mid to late afternoon on Sunday but the situation is sketchy all depending on the precipitation.”

Gov. Jack Dalrymple was dismayed at receiving word from Craig Fugate, Administer of the Federal Emergency Management Agency that individual assistance for flood victims was denied when the state submitted an application for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.

The federal government pays 75 percent of emergency costs and rebuilding expenses when an official federal disaster is declared for an area. It also provides emergency relief and sustenance for individuals.

“Any person who is paying any attention whatsoever can easily see the tremendous damages to property across the state. Many people who have left their homes cannot wait for assistance with living expenses, Dalrymple said in a press release. “I find it hard to believe that FEMA does not see the destructive effects of flooding on citizens in North Dakota. The damages to homes and businesses throughout the state are obvious.”

John Ashton, a FEMA spokesman based in Bismarck, North Dakota said in a telephone interview, “The original request for individual assistance came before the flooding and inundation of homes in the Missouri River.”

Ashton further advised, “It is likely that Governor Dalrymple will file an appeal where FEMA will reassess the situation basically for the ‘first’ time for Bismarck. It will be looked at by the President with declarations and FEMA would come in for assistance to pay for rental, basic repairs, central appliances and furniture. Then the state will ask FEMA to provide assistance with basic needs or alternative housing.”

Jeff Zent the director and policy advisor of communications from Gov. Dalrymple’s office said in a telephone interview, “This is an epic flood and it is beyond our control, the state will assist in every way possible.”