Formal Preliminary Damage Assessments Slated for 10 N.D. Counties

North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven has announced a formal Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA), conducted in partnership with local, state and federal officials, will begin Tuesday, June 21, for cities, counties and one tribal reservation reporting storm and flood damage.

“The situation is more than many residents can handle and is seriously hampering agricultural operations, rural transportation and has raised concerns for public health and safety,” Hoeven said. “We are working to provide assistance, as well as press for federal help to cities, counties and tribal reservations that continue to be affected by recent storms and flooding.”

The N.D. Division of Homeland Security received notification that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be participating in the PDA to document flood damages in 10 designated counties and one tribal reservation in North Dakota.

“These formal damage assessments are important in providing an overall picture of storm and flood impacts throughout the state,” said Susan Reinertson, director of the N.D. Division of Homeland Security. “The information collected during these assessments will be a major step in determining whether North Dakota meets criteria for federal assistance.”

Jurisdictions that will be inspected in the PDA include Bottineau, Dickey, LaMoure, McHenry, McLean, Nelson, Sioux, Steele, Traill, and Ward counties, as well as the Spirit Lake Nation. However, additional counties and tribal reservations may be added as weather conditions and damage reports dictate.

On June 9, Hoeven issued a statewide emergency declaration for impacts resulting from recent severe thunderstorm systems that have caused riverine and overland flooding, forced evacuations of families, isolated rural residents and damaged homes and infrastructure.

Also included in the declaration is the Devils Lake Basin, where flood-related problems have persisted for 12 consecutive years as water levels continue their historic rise.