Page 6 THE WALSH COUNTY PRESS • .WEDNESDAY,• MARCH 22, 2017
WASHINGTON-- U.S. Sen-
ator Heidi Heitkamp pressed a key
Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) leader on March
14 On the importance of securing
flood I.evy protections in Drayton
- which helps protect NorthDako-
ta communities in Devils Lake,
Grafton, and Grand Forks and
other regions - during the height
of the state's flood season.
During a hearingin the Senate
Committee on Banking, Hous-
ing, & Urban Affairs, Heitkamp
questioned FEMA Deputy Asso-
ciate Administrator fbr Insurance
Mitigation Roy Wright about how
he plans to urgently work to help
mitigate the potential impact ma-
jor flooding could have on north-
eastern North Dakota by extend-
ing the Drayton levee project
which helps protect the area. Last
month, Heitkamp sat down with
local leaders and emergency re-
sponse teams in Drayton to discuss
the best methods to prepare the
northeast region of the state for
major flooding expected this
spring. Just days after that meet-
ing, Heitkamp spoke with Wright
about the situation, and Wright
agreed that changes should not be
made during a flood fight, poten-
tially putting lives and property at
risk. Today, Heitkamp urged
Wright to make a prompt decision,
as the city. of Drayton has since ap-
plied for a sixth-month exten-
sion.
As a subcommittee ranking
member on the Committee, which
has jurisdiction on the National
Flood Insurance Program,
Heitkamp is fighting to reauthorize
the program to make sure North
Dakota homeowners and busi-
nesses have affordable, accessible
flood insurance protections.
"Families and businesses across
our state know just how hard
floods can hit - and the sometimes
irreparable damage they can leave
in their wake. Today I pressed
FEMA on the need to make sure
families and communities are pro-
tected," said Heitkamp. "When I
sat down with leaders and emer-
gency response teams in Drayton,
we talked about solutions our
northeastern communities need
to stay safe this spring. Earlier this
month, I brought those concerns to
FEMA Deputy Associate Admin-
istrator for Insurance Mitigation
Roy Wright and pressed the need
to extend the deadline for the
city's levee another six months to
make sure it remains in place fbr
this spring's flood fight. He agreed
with me that changes shouldn't be
made during height of flood sea-
son, and today i piashed him for a
tbrmal commitment. As we look
toward the National Flood Insur-
BISMARCK, N.D.-- Insur-
ance Commissioner Jon Godfread
today encouraged renters, home-
owners and business owners to
better understand their flood risk
and insurance coverage following
heavy winter snowfall.
"I urge all North Dakotans to
take the time to learn about how
they can better protect them-
selves and their property from the
destruction brought on by a
flood," Godfread said. "Tradi-
tional homeowners insurance
policies do not cxwer flooding. Be-
cause there is a 30-day waiting pe-
.riod before a flood insurance
a standard homeowners insurance
policy, flood insurance is available
for renters, homeowners and
businesses as a special policy
that is fMerally backed by the Na-
tional Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP).
The NFIP is a federal program,
managed by the Federal Emer-
gency Management Achninistra-
tion, responsible for providing
flood insurance, improving flood-
plain management and develop-
ing maps of flood hazard zones.
The NFIP allows propertg¢ own-
ers in participating communities
policy kicks in, this is a critical to buy insurance to protect against
time of year for consumers to talk "flood losses. A homeowner is
to their insurance agent about their ableto purchase excess flood in-
policy's limits and what other cow stuance, but they must be covered
erage op.tions they have." •byNFIP flood insurance first.
Floods are the most common For more information, con-
and most destructive of natural sumers should contact their in-
disasters in the U.S., with all 50 surance agent, the NFIP
states having experienced floods (www.floodsmart.gov) at 1-800-
or flash floods in the past five 638-6620, or the North Dakota In-
years, according to Floods- surance Department
mart.gov.Although flood damage (www.nd.gov/ndins) at 1-800-
is not traditionally covered under 247-0560.
ance program expiration, in Sep- Heitkamp has long fought to
tember, I'll keep fighting to keep make sure the federal govern-
northeastern North Dakota safe, ment lives up to its responsibilities
and to make sure all of our and assists North Dakota in re-
statewide communities can ac- covering from past flooding and
cess the affordable flood insurance helping protect communities
they need to weather the storm.': throughout North Dakota from
Just last month, Heitkamp future floods.
launched a new page on her web- In October, Heitkamp met with
site with resources for North Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney in her
Dakotans to stay intbrmed about ongoing push to guarantee the.
weather alerts, plan for potential Red River Valley gets the perma-
floods anticipated this spring, and nent flood protections the area
respond safely ifflooding occurs, needs. Heitkamp updated Ma-
Heitkamp is committed to pro-. honey on her. work to forge a
.tecting North Dakota communities path forward that secures Fargo
from severe weather like flooding, flood protections, including a con-
In January, Heitkamp pressed versation she had with then,OMB
Mick Mulvaney, who now leads Director Shaun Donovan, pressing
the U.S. Office of Management him on the need for continued fed-
and Budget (OMB), on the ira- eral support.
portance of continued federal sup- And last July, Heitkamp joined
port for strong, permanent flood officials in Fargo for the signing of
protection in Fargo and Minot. an agreement to initiate construc-
And last year, Heitkamp helped tion for the Fargo-Moorhead di-
successfully secure federal support version. And after successfully
from OMB and Army Corps lead- working to secure a study start for
ers for a Minot study start and a Minot, Heitkamp participated in
Fargo construction start, in addi- the signing ceremony for the
tion to critical funding for both Minot and Souris Basin Flood
projects, protections in May 2016. ,
more information about lmtrition for
yourself and members of your fam-
ily.
4. Read, read, read. Go to the li-
brary and check out books. Keep the
mental stimulation flowing through-
out the year regardless of your age.
5. Work on 4-1=1. projects or open-
class exhibits for the county fair. Lo-
cate last year's county fair pro-
gram for ideas andlook at upcom-
ing events provided on NDSU Ex-
tension'- Walsh County's office
website at https://www.ag.ndsu.edt /
walshcountyextension.
6. Check out parenting, finance,
nutrition and/or food preparation
classes offered by NDSU Extension
- Walsh County. Call 284-6624
more intbnnation about upcoming
ofl rings.
7. Maintain a healthy home. Be
sure your smoke detector is work-
ing correctly ,and test for the presence
of Radon. Help manage allergies
and/or asthma by cleaning and vac-
uuming regularly to reduce allergy
triggers in the home. Avoid acci-
dental poisonings by keeping med-
I
WALSH'COUNTY
ADVERTISING DEADLINE:
THURSDAY AT NOON
ications locked up, and cleaning help planyourlnenus. Use leftovers
agents and other poisons out of as the basis for another meal.
reach of children. Any questions about this colulrm
8. Keep your family finances in or something else may be directed
check. Track your expenses and up- to the NDSU Extension office in
date your budget regularly. Eat gt Walsh County at 284-6624, or email
home often because meals outside me at: jamie.medbery@ndsu:edu. I
of home usually cost more. Plan would be glad tohelp!
your menus and use the coupons to So,,re: NEAFCS, Living Well
INSURANCE
PHONE (701) 284-6333
• FAX (701) 284-6091
WC! RESS(~ ! OI,ARCOMM.COM
COMPANY
10:30 a.m.
Regular Business Meeting
Election of Directors • Door Prizes
www.dunde'emutual.com
701-284-7139
Photos: Larry Bid
Above: Jackie Marks doesthe
intricate "job of threading the
needle on her sewing machine
at the "Cabin Fever Relievers"
quilting retreat at the Park Riv-
er Bible Camp. Jackie taught
classes at the last relreat for lhe
year at the Bible Camp. Right:
JoAnne Field looks over a bor-
der to be sewn around her
quilt at the quilting retreat at the
Park River Bible Camp.
E-cigarette use among our teens has skyrocketed to 22%.
That's no surprise. Tobacco companies want your kids
as customers and spend billions targeting them with,candy
and fruit flavored e,cigarettes. It's time to fight back.
Learnmore at BreatheND.com
Brought to you by the North Dakota Center for ]obacco Prevention
and Control Policy and your local public health unit.
I
