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Klobuchar, Franken and Peterson Urge FEMA to Prepare for Red River Flooding

Latest weather service reports indicate record flooding possible for Red River Valley

March 3, 2010

Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken along with Congressman Collin Peterson urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to strengthen federal efforts in the Red River Valley.  In a letter to FEMA Administrator, Craig Fugate, the members requested that FEMA take immediate steps to coordinate flood mitigation efforts and prepare to respond swiftly to any flood damage. The National Weather Service recently forecast that the Red River Valley region is again facing the possible flooding at record levels this spring. 

“We write to bring to your attention the potential for devastating flooding along the Red River of the North this spring, and ask for your immediate assistance to plan, prepare and coordinate flood protection efforts, which communities have already initiated, to facilitate FEMA’s timely response to any damage once the water recedes,” said the members in the letter. 

The letter additionally highlighted the need to for timely completion of mitigation and reduction efforts from the 2009 flood to help prevent further flood damages and allow for the easier construction of temporary levees to better protect communities, not just individual homes.

Last year, severe weather, above average rain fall and untimely melting of snow caused the Red River to reach a record 40.84 feet.  High water levels and the resulting flooding devastated northwestern Minnesota.

The full text of the letter is below:

 
March 3, 2010

The Honorable Craig Fugate
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street SW
Washington, DC  20472

Dear Administrator Fugate:

We write to bring to your attention the potential for devastating flooding along the Red River of the North this spring, and ask for your immediate assistance to plan, prepare and coordinate flood protection efforts, which communities have already initiated, to facilitate FEMA’s timely response to any damage once the water recedes.

Last year, above average rainfall, an untimely melting of snow and a steady stream of severe weather resulted in the Red River reaching a record level of 40.84 feet, which caused devastating flooding across northwestern Minnesota.  In fact, President Obama declared 15 counties in Minnesota as disaster areas resulting from the spring 2009 floods.  Communities across the Red River Valley launched an unprecedented effort to protect homes, businesses and schools from record flooding.  Residents acted heroically to protect not only their own homes, but the homes of their neighbors and community landmarks. 

Unfortunately, the National Weather Service’s most recent outlook for spring shows that the region is again facing the strong possibility of another 100 year flood event.  Specifically, the Fargo-Moorhead area has a 70 percent chance that flooding will reach 37 feet, which is broadly accepted as the highest level the communities can fight without a significant investment of resources.   These same communities devastated by last year’s flooding are now gearing up for yet another flood event.

Compounding efforts to protect the region is the fact that hazard mitigation and reduction efforts from the 2009 flood event are not yet complete.  While Congress works to consider the supplemental appropriations request by President Obama, we urge you to exhaust all options available to you to mitigate these existing hazards as quickly as possible.  Mitigation will help prevent further flood damage, and, in many cases, allow for the easier construction of temporary levees to better protect communities, not just individual homes.

Thank for your consideration of our request.  These communities need – and deserve – the attention of our federal agencies.

Sincerely,

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Senator Al Franken
Congressman Collin Peterson

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