Sen. Heitkamp Successfully Secures Extension for Northeastern North Dakota Flood Protections

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The office of Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., issued the following news release:

Following U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp's efforts to press a key Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) leader for a firm commitment to securing flood levee protections in Drayton during the height of the state's flood season, FEMA today announced that it heeded Heitkamp's request - granting the city of Drayton a 30-day grace period for the levee to remain while a longer-term solution is evaluated.

Just two weeks ago, Heitkamp questioned FEMA Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance Mitigation Roy Wright during a U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs - where Heitkamp serves as a subcommittee ranking member - about the need for his agency to provide certainty to residents of northeastern North Dakota who are threatened by major flooding this spring by extending the Drayton levee project which helps protect the area. That hearing followed Heitkamp's conversation with Wright earlier this month when she urged him to make a decision on the city of Drayton's application for a sixth-month extension on the project. During their conversation, Heitkamp relayed to Wright the concerns of emergency response teams and local leaders she had visited with in Drayton about potential flood damage anticipated this spring.

"Our communities in northeastern North Dakota are no strangers to flood damage - that's why I'm glad top FEMA leaders heeded my call keep Drayton's flood protection project in place ahead of the springtime months," said Heitkamp. "When I sat down with leaders and emergency response teams in Drayton last month, we talked about how crucial the levee is to keeping the community protected - and it's their concerns I relayed to top FEMA leaders just days later, and again just two weeks ago in a Senate hearing when I pressed for a firm commitment. Our communities deserve certainty when it comes to their peace of mind ahead of flooding season, and I'll keep fighting for the lasting flood protections our communities deserve - this spring and in many seasons to come."

Just last month, Heitkamp launched a new page on her website with resources for North Dakotans to stay informed about weather alerts, plan for potential floods anticipated this spring, and respond safely if flooding occurs.

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