Hoeven, Dalrymple: FEMA Agrees to Make $5.8 Million in Hazard Mitigation Grants

Statement

Senator, Governor, Local Officials To Review Corps Mitigation Work in Devils Lake Friday

Sen. John Hoeven and Gov. Jack Dalrymple today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved their request to make Hazardous Mitigation Grants available to help the City of Minnewaukan relocate.

Dalrymple made the formal request on January 7, following a series of meetings and phone calls he and Hoeven had with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Doug Gore of FEMA Region 8, and other agency officials urging them to allow the city to access a pool of $5.8 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant (HMG) funds to help the city of Minnewaukan cover the costs of flood mitigation measures. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds sought by Dalrymple would be used to help pay the costs of moving buildings or protecting critical infrastructure such as water lift stations, sewer lines and sewage lagoons. If approved, the grant requires a 10-percent state and local match.

"We are very pleased to receive such a timely response to our request for funding from FEMA," Dalrymple said. "This makes it possible for us to put our mitigation plan together immediately."

"This is clearly good news for Minnewaukan and the wider community of Devils Lake," Hoeven said. "We now have another piece in place for our joint effort to make sure the region has the resources they need to protect businesses and residents from ongoing challenge of flooding."

In addition the Senator has asked U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commander Lt. Col. Kendall Bergmann and Project Coordinator and Levee Expert Bonnie Greenleaf in Devils Lake Friday to provide federal, state and local officials with a review of work underway to fortify levies and other infrastructure in the region. Hosting them will be Devils Lake Mayor Dick Johnson. Media are welcome to accompany the group for the tour, which will depart from the airport at 12 noon. Also participating in the tour will be Rep. Dennis Johnson; Rep. Curt Hofftad and State Water Commissioner Todd Sando.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, water levels in the Devils Lake region are currently at 1451.6, with a 90 percent chance they will rise to 1453.5 and a 50 percent chance they will rise to 1554.6. Greater than average precipitation and heavy snowpack suggest Devils Lake and Stump Lake will rise to record levels this spring and summer.

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