North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple has issued a statewide disaster declaration in preparation for the threat of spring flooding throughout North Dakota, he announced today.
Dalrymple cited the heavy snowpack on saturated land across the state and National Weather Service flood outlooks that call for a strong potential for flooding in communities near Devils Lake, the Souris River, the Red River, the James River and the Missouri River.
"The forecasts clearly show there is significant potential for flooding that may exceed local response capabilities in areas across the state," he said in a written statement. "This emergency declaration is an important step in having state resources at the ready to protect people and property from significant spring flood events."
The latest spring flood outlook released Jan. 26 calls for a 50 percent chance of the Red River reaching 50.0 feet at Grand Forks this spring. The river has a 50 percent chance of reaching 37.3 feet in Fargo.
Devils Lake has a 50 percent chance of rising to 1,455.0 feet this year, nearly 3 feet above the lake's record level of 1,452.1 feet set last summer.
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Dalrymple said he's in regular communication with state agencies, the North Dakota National Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to plan for spring flood assistance.
He directed a half-day meeting on Feb. 7 that brought together state agencies and officials to coordinate statewide flood preparation efforts.
