An overview of nearly $235 million spent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on flooding disasters in the past year in North Dakota shows more than $80 million was obligated to the Souris Valley.
More than 20 percent, or $46.7 million, of the state total went to Minot Public Schools. Other amounts were $9.8 million to Ward County, $7.2 million to Minot, $4 million to the State Fair, $2.5 million to Minot Park District and $1.6 million to Burlington.
Additionally, Bottineau County received $1.9 million, McHenry County $5.5 million and Renville County $1.2 million.
FEMA directed 28 federal response assignments at a cost of more than $60 million dollars to FEMA and almost $7 million to the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. Also, FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program paid out on 488 claims for a total of $59.3 million in McHenry, Renville and Ward counties.
A summary of activities includes:
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its contractors removed more than 61,000 tons of debris within Ward County, including 54,000 tons from Minot. This included removing the temporary levees and curbside debris removal. This mission assigned by FEMA cost $17 million, with 10 percent paid by the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. The curbside debris removal cost $2.6 million.
- Teams from the Department of Health and Human Services assisted with public health consultations and inspection of homes. The teams visited about 4,600 homes. The mission cost $100,000, with 10 percent paid by the state.
- The Environmental Protection Agency removed more than 6,000 units of white goods, 80,000 small containers of hazardous materials, 15,000 gallons of gasoline, 215 lead-acid batteries and more than 550 cubic yards of electronic waste, most of which was recycled. The EPA collected asbestos insulation from more than 220 households, conducted air sampling during cleanup activities and conducted soil sampling in city parks once flooding subsided. The mission cost $5.2 million, with 10 percent paid by the state.
- The General Services Administration received $84,000 to search for space, facilities and land to support FEMA and provided fleet vehicles.
- The Occupational Health and Safety Administration provided air sampling, site inspections and seminars on hazard awareness. Its mission cost $94,000, with 10 percent paid by the state.
- More than $9 million in federal cost-share funds were provided to state agencies, including $5 million to the North Dakota Army National Guard, $2.2 million to the North Dakota Department of Transportation and $1.1 million to the Department of Emergency Services.
- About 135 federal law enforcement officers from four different agencies were deployed to support local police and sheriff's departments at a cost of $3.6 million, with 10 percent paid by the state.
- The Fish and Wildlife Service did airboat missions and patrols on both the Red River and in the Minot area at a cost of $100,000, with 10 percent paid by the state.
- FEMA received 8,256 individual or household applications for assistance in Ward, Renville and McHenry counties, providing $89 million for rental assistance or home repair and $2 million for other needs assistance.
- In the Souris Valley, the Small Business Administration approved $198 million in loans to individuals and $42.8 million to businesses.
- The Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, managed by Job Service North Dakota and funded by FEMA, provided $2.4 million in benefits.
- FEMA funded $3.3 million in crisis counseling grants.
- The transitional sheltering assistance program ended Dec. 26 at a cost of nearly $3.2 million. This program allowed displaced residents to stay in hotel rooms until more permanent housing became available.
- Construction of infrastructure and 848 pads at three group housing sites cost $40 million, with 10 percent paid by the state.
- FEMA completed $13 million in winterization processes, such as foam insulation, use of heat tape and arctic vestibule construction.
FEMA continues to incur costs through its public assistance programs, including the ongoing curbside debris collection program.
More than 150 Corps of Engineers personnel were deployed for flood fighting and flood recovery operations.
Temporary levee construction cost the Corps about $5 million for Minot, another $1 million for Sawyer, $600,000 for Burlington and $500,000 for Velva. Current estimates are that ongoing repairs to the permanent levees and the pump stations, plus the scour at Velva, will cost the Corps more than $5 million.