EarlPomeroy

Devils Lake, Jun 26 - Congressman Earl Pomeroy met here Saturday with officials from city and county government to get the latest briefing on the continuing struggles with rising waters, as well as to provide an update on his work to secure urgent assistance from the federal government.

Pomeroy received a briefing from Ramsey County Commissioner Joe Belford and a group of other Lake Region officials. He told the group he will be meeting within days with top officials from the Administration and will take their update directly to them.

Pomeroy also gave an update on the efforts to create a task force, headed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the direction of the Office of Management and Budget, that will help cut through red tape and provide relief to the Lake Region as quickly as possible. The task force includes representatives of the Corps of Engineers, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior, Department of State, Environmental Protection Agency, National Weather Service and Office of Management and Budget. The group will also work closely with state, tribal, and local governments, as well as downstream interests in North Dakota.

“It’s clear that we’re dealing with an urgent problem here in Devils Lake, and we need to marshal the resources to protect lives and property right now,” Congressman Pomeroy said. “I’ve been pushing the Administration to provide urgent help and they have so far been responsive. But we won’t rest. We’re going to keep on these agencies to make sure they are focused like a laser on helping the people of the Lake Region.”

Among the issues that the task force has agreed to review are its ability to adjust water quality criteria to allow more water to be pumped through the existing west-end outlet, the possibility of accessing higher-quality water from Pelican Lake to ensure the outlet can pump at full capacity, and reviewing strategies for more upper basin storage. Strategies to protect the city of Minnewaukan and reevaluate FEMA flood insurance policies are also under review. The Administration has assured Pomeroy and the North Dakota congressional delegation that no options for relief are off the table.

Pomeroy and Senators Dorgan and Conrad have led the fight to protect the Lake Region from flooding since water levels began to threaten the area more than a decade ago. The delegation has secured more than $700 million in federal funding to protect people and property from flood waters.