North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven on Thursday declared a statewide emergency in response to damages from recent severe storms.
The declaration is the first step toward a potential presidential declaration and federal assistance, said Hoeven spokesman Don Canton. It also allows more state resources to be tapped.
"It sets the wheels in motion," Canton said.
Repeated storms this spring have caused flooding, threatened roads and sewage and water systems, and forced evacuations.
Hoeven plans to tour the Edgeley area at 4 p.m. today. People there are dealing with the aftermath of a flash flood overnight Tuesday that forced the evacuation of about 15 homes.
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City Auditor Joe Neis conservatively estimated the flood damage at between $350,000 and $500,000.
Nearly 40 properties were damaged by the flood, including several houses where basement walls caved in, he said.
Those who were displaced found other places to stay, including apartments, Neis said.
A local group will meet this morning to consider providing financial assistance for some of the displaced residents.
"We're going to try to find a way to help," Neis said.
Residents continued to clean up debris around town Thursday, he said.
The swimming pool - now filled with muddy water - will need to be drained and cleaned, and fire departments may clean silt from the streets.
Neis said the flood may have resulted from cornstalks that plugged culverts to the west, creating a dam-like effect on a fence before suddenly breaking loose.
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"We're trying to analyze how this could happen this bad," Neis said. "Even with a lot of rain, it shouldn't just go bam ... Some people saw a wall of water going down the street."
Other state officials toured Edgeley Wednesday, hours after the flood, to begin damage assessments. They also went to waterlogged Wahpeton and Ellendale.
Near Ellendale, people earlier this week sandbagged around Pheasant Lake Dam to prevent dam failure caused by torrential rains.
The dam has since been declared stable, said Todd Sando, assistant state engineer for the North Dakota Water Commission, which was monitoring the dam.
"There's a lot of water to deal with, but it's functioning the way it should function," Sando said.
In his declaration, Hoeven also cited flooding along the Souris River in north-central North Dakota, storms in western and central North Dakota, agricultural losses and 12 consecutive years of flooding in the Devils Lake region.
Officials are assessing damages from the storms to see whether the state will be eligible for assistance.
People with damaged property should keep repair receipts, document damages and review their insurance policies, said Lonnie Hoffer, who works in recovery and hazard mitigation for the state Division of Emergency Management.
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"Right now, the priority for the individuals is to clean up after the storm," Hoffer said. "These people do not have to wait to find out if there is financial assistance."
Readers can reach Forum reporter Andrea Domaskin at (701) 241-5556
