Senator Kent Conrad Inspects Recovery Effort in Lisbon

Leaders Focus on Clean-Up Assistance, Future Prevention Efforts

May 26, 2009 -- Lisbon – At a meeting with community leaders from across Ransom County, Senator Kent Conrad today pledged his full support to help Lisbon-area families and business owners recover from the damage caused by Sheyenne River flooding.

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“North Dakotans have a long tradition of pulling together in the face of adversity. The situation facing families and businesses in Lisbon and throughout Ransom County is no different,” Senator Conrad said. “With the cooperative efforts of everyone at the state, local and federal level we will help Ransom County make a full recovery.”

The Sheyenne River at Lisbon reached a record level of 22.84 feet on April 16, surpassing the record of 19.29 feet set in 1997. Senator Conrad noted that even though emergency levees and HESCO barriers were erected in the community to protect it from the rising river, homes and businesses in several neighborhoods were evacuated because of slippage in the dikes. Floodwaters damaged buildings, roads and other public spaces, such as parks.

Senator Conrad credited the leadership of Lisbon Mayor Ross Cole with limiting the damage. On April 14, Senator Conrad spoke with Mayor Cole to get an update on the situation on the ground and offered any assistance the federal government could provide. The following day – as conditions in Lisbon worsened - Mayor Cole reached out to Senator Conrad for assistance from the National Guard. Working with Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, Senator Conrad helped secure 12 dump trucks and a rapid response team from the National Guard to assist Mayor Cole’s efforts at protecting the town.

Joining Senator Conrad at today’s meeting were Mayor Cole, Fort Ransom Mayor Arden Falk, and Ransom County Emergency Manager Terese Rotenberger.

With spring flooding at record levels around North Dakota, Senator Conrad has coordinated the response from federal agencies and brought officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers to North Dakota. Additionally, he met personally with President Barack Obama to deliver an assessment of the flooding damage. The President pledged his full support for the people of North Dakota at that meeting.

Source: Senator Kent Conrad