North Dakota Delegation Calls for FEMA to Upgrade Levees

Lawmakers Want Temporary Levees Turned into Permanent Protection

June 2, 2009 -- Washington – With floodwaters receding across North Dakota, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is advocating that temporary dikes be removed completely from communities impacted by spring flooding. However, Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Congressman Earl Pomeroy are concerned that removal of the emergency dikes would leave communities with reduced flood protection.

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The Congressional delegation today urged FEMA officials to allow federal funds targeted for dike removal to instead be used to upgrade the temporary levees used in this spring’s flood fight to more permanent structures.

In a conference call today with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, the delegation urged him to reconsider existing policy prohibiting FEMA funds from being used to upgrade temporary levees to permanent structures. They also received clarification from Administrator Fugate that there is not a June 8, 2009 deadline by which communities must upgrade or remove the emergency levees.

There are a number of communities across the state considering retaining portions of their temporary levees. If levees are improved to meet federal standards, they reduce long-term costs by decreasing the need for protection from future floods and limiting the risks of damage.

“By allowing FEMA funds that would otherwise be used for levee removal to instead upgrade the structures, these communities would get timely, long-term protection. In the long-run, this could save lives and limit damage as a result of any future flooding,” the delegation said in a joint statement.

Last month, the Congressional delegation sent a letter to Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security asking for flexibility in allowing communities to upgrade temporary levees into permanent structures to protect communities from future flooding.

Source: Senator Kent Conrad