To report damages to your home, please call the Flood Damage Hotline at 1-877-212-0316 or fill out the Flood Survey.
ND Road Conditions are available on the NDDOT website; always learn about road conditions before traveling during a flood. North Dakota Travel Information is also available from any phone by dialing 511.
In response to the recent tornadoes and floods, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering U.S. Department of Treasury disaster loans to small business owners affected by the natural disasters. Financial assistance is available to those who are located in an area President Obama has issued a natural disaster declaration.
SBA loans differ from the financial assistance FEMA offers. While FEMA offers financial assistance to residents, which they do not have to repay, the SBA only offers loans that borrowers must repay. These loans, however, are offered with low interest rates. Renters, homeowners and non-profit organizations can also apply for loans through the SBA. Homeowners can borrow up to $200,000, while business owners can borrow a maximum of $2,000,000.
The purpose of the SBA disaster loans is to help ensure businesscontinuity by assisting business owners with the costs associated with flood remediation, the process of restoring wet documents and building repairs. To receive a disaster loan, you must first file a claim with FEMA, which you can do online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). After filing a claim, FEMA will mail you a recovery package that contains an SBA application.
When you apply for an SBA loan, the lender does not consider your credit score. Instead, the lender bases its decision on your circumstances, need and ability to repay the loan amount requested. When filing a disaster claim, you will need you Social Security number, the address of the building in need of storm damage restoration, your current address, a current telephone number, insurance information, information regarding your income and a description of your losses.
March 14, 2011 officially kicks-off National Flood Safety Awareness Week as residents in the Northeast, Midwest and South continue to take care of the aftermath from recent floods and prepare for more. The National Weather Service reminds residents that flooding is a threat that can occur all over the U.S. during any time of the year. The goal of National Flood Safety Awareness Week is to educate people about the types of floods, the hazards associated with flood and about flood preparation.
Flood Safety
Floods are one of the most frequent and costly natural disasters in the U.S. One of the most important flood safety tips is to know the difference between a flood/flash flood watch and a flood/flash flood warning. Where there is a flood watch, this means there is a possibility of flooding in an area. On the other hand, a flood warning indicates there is already a flood in an area or flooding will happen soon.
When you hear about a flood or flash flood watch in your area, grab your emergency disaster kit, listen to the news for updates and be ready to evacuate. If you do need to evacuate, do not drive on a flooded road. It is hard to tell how deep the water is and rapidly moving water as low as two feet can sweep a car away. If you have to evacuate at night, find out if any of the roads are closed so you can adjust your route accordingly. Never wade in floodwater and keep children away from the water. Floodwater may be contaminated with toxic chemicals or contain sharp objects that you may not see.
The year 2009 was one of record-setting devastation for those near the Red River in North Dakota. Since then, the city of Fargo has purchased 50 properties in an attempt to protect the city from flooding without the need to use sandbags. However, homeowner John Stern will not budge.
Dream Home
Stern purchased his dream home over 25 years ago—a 1,800 square foot property along the Red River designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Stern told the Associated Press in an interview that his home is like a tree house because of its placement among the trees and the unique architectural twists and turns that allow for fantastic river views. The city of Fargo is trying to purchase Stern’s home, along with 14 others.
In 1997, Stern unsuccessfully used 11 electric pumps in an attempt to keep floodwaters away from his home. Following the disaster, he built a clay dike. In 2009, Stern fortified his levee with sandbags. In addition to purchasing flood insurance, some of Stern’s neighbors invested thousands of dollars to raise the foundations of their homes to protect them from flood damage.
Flood Predictions and Fears
Pat Zavoral, a Fargo city official, states the National Weather service predicts there is a 70 percent chance that the river will crest this spring at a level higher than it did during the fall of 2010. The city’s buyout option is voluntary, and residents are warned that the city may lack funds if they dwell on the decision to sell their homes for too long. Fargo city officials state that homes on their buyout list are in danger of continual water damage from floods even if they divert the Red River, especially if they experience a “500-year flood event.” Residents on the buyout list feel pressured to sell and fear their homes will suffer a loss in value by being placed on the buyout list. Regardless, the city of Fargo will continue to help homeowners place sandbags around their properties to protect their riverside homes.
In addition to the 50 Iowa counties that have already received a Presidential disaster declaration, 29 more were added on August 15, 2010. This order will support more state and local recovery efforts that are helping residents clean-up after the aftermath of the severe summer weather that began on June 1, 2010. Iowa residents have had to endure tornadoes, severe storms and floods, and this recent declaration will bring much-needed relief.
FEMA states that individuals, families and businesses are eligible to receive federal funding. Also available are grants to provide temporary housing, home-repair aid and low-cost loans to assist those who are dealing with uninsured property losses.
The 29 latest areas added to the disaster declaration include the Black Hawk, Cherokee, Clayton, Decatur, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Howard, Humboldt, Ida, Jackson, Jones, Kossuth, Lee, Lucas, Lyon, Marion, O’Brien, Osceola, Ringgold, Sioux, Story, Taylor, Union, Warren, Webster, and Wright counties.
“Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties may immediately begin registering for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time). Those registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves, details on insurance coverage, and any other information to help substantiate losses.”
