Plan for the worst, get prepared and hope for the best.
That’s the advice to residents who could be affected by river flooding and/or overland run-off as a result of this spring’s snowmelt, according to Nancy Shafer, assistant director of Polk County Emergency Management and director of the county’s dispatch center.
“Planning,” she says, “should include having made arrangements to have materials – sandbags, sand and equipment – on site along with options for assembling a workforce to construct protective diking. Planning should also include having arranged for the relocation of certain family members, animals, and vulnerable product and equipment to high and dry locations if needed.”
The purchase of flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, which is available through local insurance agencies, should also be high on the list of preparations.
Responsibility for flood fight preparations begins with the residents who are most likely to be affected. When that effort exceeds residents’ ability to provide it, further assistance should be requested through their township or city. If that assistance is then not adequate, contact should be made with PCEM.
Sandbags
In preparation for this spring’s snowmelt, the county has purchased 200,000 sandbags (at 12 cents each from Valley Bag in East Grand Forks). Those bags will be made available to county residents. The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has another 60,000 to 70,000 bags currently in storage in the county that will be available to protect infrastructure such as culverts, roads, electrical service, etc.
Sandbag distribution sites for rural residents will be maintained in both Crookston and East Grand Forks. The Crookston site is at the PCEM office in the Law Enforcement Center at 600 Bruce St.
Residents will be asked to sign for the bags that they receive and will be told that they will be billed for them at a later date at the county’s cost of 12 cents per bag. It is important that residents keep track of all expenses incurred in protecting their homes in case a disaster declaration is made and Individual Assistance reimbursements become available.
Individuals must make their own arrangements for sand and/or the Class 5 material that's preferable for later use on road surfaces. The sandbag distribution sites will have information on vendors who can supply these materials and also on how bags should be filled and stacked to provide the greatest and safest protection.
For Crookston residents, bags are available by calling city hall at 281-1232. The City of Crookston maintains its own flood fight organization, as do the cities of Climax and Fisher. East Grand Forks, with its completed flood protection system in place, does not have a general need for sandbags. These cities work with PCEM as needed, including in the area of developing media announcements.
