Jamestown  (CSi)  On Monday afternoon, North Dakota Governor, Doug Burgum, along with State Agriculture Commissioner, Doug Goehring and other state and local, officials attended the Jamestown meeting, at the Civic Center, to hear firsthand about the potentially devastating impacts of the unusually wet weather and to share information about the state’s response, including gathering information.

  • Gov Doug Burgum in Jamestown Oct 21 - CSiNewsNow.com pix Gov Doug Burgum in Jamestown Oct 21 - CSiNewsNow.com pix
  • Regional producers at Jamestown flood impact meeting Oct 21 Regional producers at Jamestown flood impact meeting Oct 21
  • Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring in Jamestown Oct 21 - CSi pix Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring in Jamestown Oct 21 - CSi pix
  • Regional producers at Jamestown flood impact meeting Oct 21 Regional producers at Jamestown flood impact meeting Oct 21
  • Army National Guard Major General Alan Dohrman & Mayor Heinrich Army National Guard Major General Alan Dohrman & Mayor Heinrich
  • Regional producers at Jamestown flood impact meeting Oct 21 Regional producers at Jamestown flood impact meeting Oct 21
  • Gov Doug Burgum in Jamestown Oct 21 - CSiNewsNow.com pix Gov Doug Burgum in Jamestown Oct 21 - CSiNewsNow.com pix
     

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Jamestown Mayor Dwaine Heinrich said in conversations with the Corps of Engineers that the previously planned combined releases from Jamestown and Pipestem Dams that was targeted for Saturday October 26 will not be enough to reduce the reservoir levels to the freeze up level, for water storage space.   He added that the Corps of Engineers is working on a formula that will evacuate the floods storage space in the reservoirs before freeze up and by how much more the combined releases will need to be.  Interstate Engineering’s Travis Dillman said, presently there are no flood maps available showing area to be further flood mitigated  with the Mayor telling the Corps of Engineers that outside help will be needed in addition to local crews, for additional flood mitigation when the combined dam releases exceed 2400 cfs. Mayor Heinrich pointed out that the sewage lift stations are nearing capacity, and earlier the city urged residents to plug sewer drains in homes and business, with sewer back a good possibility.  Video from the Weds Oct 16 meeting with the National Weather Service and US Army Corps.  (or scroll to bottom of this page)

Stutsman County Emergency Manager, Jerry Bergquist said, on Monday Pipestem Dam was 24 feet above the flood storage pool, and Jamestown Reservoir was seven feet above the freeze up level.  Also on Monday, the combined inflows at both reservoirs were at 5700 cfs, three times the release rates..

Earlier on Monday, Gov Doug Burgum signed an executive order declaring a statewide flood emergency, paving the way for requests for federal assistance to help North Dakotans deal with significant flooding impacts caused by heavy fall rains and a historic October blizzard.

A presidential disaster declaration includes public assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of damaged road infrastructure.

A USDA secretarial disaster designation unlocks financial assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Plus Program, or WHIP+. Payments from the program take into account a producer’s crop insurance coverage and the size of the loss.

Burgum said, “There’s an economic hardship that we’re facing here relative to this fall’s harvest that is likely unprecedented. We have a whole team of people across the state who will be activated as part of our whole-of-government approach.”

He told the Jamestown gathering that their remains billions of dollars of crops in the fields affecting not only farmers, but also ag-related businesses, and the state’s economy.

Goehring added, “This is a challenging time for many of our agricultural producers across the state. We want to do as much as we can to help assess what the losses and damages are out there and what the next steps will be.”

Also at the meeting were producers from Stutsman and Barnes Counties, along with Kidder, Foster, Logan and LaMoure Counties, who spoke of being in dire straights in getting their crops off, cattle that can not get to market, and county roads that continue to have water over them and are impassable.  Most indicated the need to move the harvest deadline to later, however that will also delay the ability to file insurance claims until after that date.

State legislative representatives also spoke, and those from other agencies,  provided additional resources available in the areas of mental health, and the crisis intervention phone line 2-1-1.

North Dakota Department of Emergency Services Director Army National Guard Major General Alan Dohrman added paperwork is being filed for federal assistance and resources.

Also at the meeting were representatives from the City of Jamestown, the City Council, and Stutsman County Commission, along with Interstate Engineering the city’s engineer.

Governor Burgum concluded the meeting by telling the large gathering that “Your voice does matter,” and to “break through bureaucracy,” in order to get help initiated in a timely matter.