Flood Recovery – TheMinotVoice.com

FEMA chief says agency will raise state burden for disasters to 50%

by: MinotVoice | May 16, 2025

The federal government is quietly redrawing the disaster recovery map—and states may soon be footing a much larger share of the bill. FEMA’s new director, David Richardson, says a 50/50 cost split is coming, doubling what states currently pay for natural disaster response. The shift, part of a broader push to narrow FEMA’s role, could

Read & Share sourced from: InForum

FEMA halts enforcement of flood protection rule for public buildings

by: MinotVoice | February 20, 2025

FEMA is stepping back from a key rule meant to protect public buildings from flood damage, a move experts say could put communities at risk. The Federal Flood Risk Management Standard required structures in flood zones to be rebuilt with future flooding in mind, but FEMA has quietly paused enforcement under a directive tied to

Read & Share sourced from: New York Times

Grand Forks City Council moves forward with phase one of Greenway updates, It’s Hard to See What Minot’s Doing

by: Josh Wolsky | January 14, 2025

Grand Forks is gearing up for a touch of transformation, focusing on the Greenway. The City Council just backed Houston Engineering to design the first phase of essential upgrades, funded by a hefty $3.49 million grant through the National Park System’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Program. Think ADA-compliant spaces and refreshed outdoor areas. It’s a step

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

‘Canoe safari,’ riverfront walk and more among proposed features in Cedar Rapids’ Greenway Plan

by: MinotVoice | February 28, 2024

As Minot continues to rebuild and add protection following the 2011 flood, we need to be on the look out for other communities on the same path. Cedar Rapids is one of those places. They are currently seeking community input for their riverfront Greenway Plan, which aims to enhance the area with new parks, sports

Read & Share sourced from: Cedar Rapids Gazette

City Council and Staff in the Dark over CDM Smith Low-Income Housing Activities

by: Josh Wolsky | March 13, 2017

A committee created to advise City Council on how to spend portions of the $74.3 million National Disaster Resilience Competition award is off to a less-than-transparent start. The Minot Affordable Housing Advisory Committee met for the first time on February 15, and according to minutes, the committee is made up of members of CDM Smith

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Grand Forks: Flood protection reducing risk, but not eliminating it

by: Josh Wolsky | November 28, 2016

Grand Forks is almost 20 years removed from the flood that decimated the City. Permanent flood protection has been in place now for many years, but in looking back on the event, officials are reminding citizens they do not have flood prevention. In Grand Forks, they have reduced flood risk, but they haven’t eliminated it.

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Listen: Old-Ramstad School Site a Priority for Disaster Resilience Funding

by: Josh Wolsky | June 28, 2016

In January, the City of Minot was awarded ~$74 million through the Housing and Urban Development’s National Disaster Resilience Competition. Since the award announcement, the City has been patiently awaiting federal guidance as to which parts of our competition application were funded, and as of the June 21 Park Board meeting, it seems the City

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Flood Therapy: Tell us all the ways in which the water displeased you

by: Josh Wolsky | June 23, 2016

Yesterday, the City and local officials commemorated the 5-year anniversary of the sounding of the sirens. Back in 2011, those sirens signaled the start of the flood. Their sound lasted only a few minutes; the water stayed for weeks. And the ripples of its effect will be bouncing around Minot for decades to come. There’s

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Friends of the Souris Organizes to Advocate for River

by: Josh Wolsky | April 19, 2016

We’re very excited to tell everyone about a new organization that’s formed in Minot. Friends of the Souris River is a grassroots group with the mission of making the Souris River in Minot a point of community pride. We’re planning a river cleanup this coming Saturday headquartered out of Roosevelt Park, and we’ll be advocating

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Now Vacant Lot in NW Minot Raises Questions about Flood Recovery & Acquisition Spending

by: Josh Wolsky | March 11, 2016

The site of a former home in Northwest Minot raises questions about the City of Minot’s flood recovery acquisition programs and demolition procedures. Acquired by the City of Minot in May of 2015, the home in question was previously located at 708 11th Street NW, outside proposed flood protection structures and near the edge of

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Almost five years after devastating flood, Minot tries to rise above the water

by: Josh Wolsky | February 9, 2016

Some coverage on our flood recovery from an outside source. Barry Amundson writing for the Grand Forks Herald provides an insightful look at our recovery process and the current status.

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Riverfront greenway begins to emerge in Cedar Rapids

by: Josh Wolsky | January 24, 2016

Cedar Rapids flooded in 2008; the recovery there serves as a valuable measuring stick for Minot’s recovery. This story is from last summer, but seems all the more relevant as the City’s resilience spending becomes front and center news.

Read & Share sourced from: The Gazette

One Man’s Opinion: We Can & Must Do Better on Flood Control

by: Jim Maxson | August 20, 2015

At a recent meeting sponsored by the Corps of Engineers regarding flood control, the attendees were advised it would probably be over 20 years before the Souris River flood control project is completed. Several credible local persons involved with the project conceded to me off the record, that it could be longer and possibly never.

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Dikes Need Repairs to Assure Corps Help

by: Josh Wolsky | August 19, 2015

Existing flood control dikes in and around Minot need repairs, and until we get that done, finding federal help from the Corps of Engineers may prove to be difficult. That was the message delivered to Ward County Commissioners Tuesday. Source: KX News: Dikes Need Repairs to Assure Corps Help

Read & Share sourced from: KX News

Compare Minot: Coverage of Grand Rapids Disaster Resiliency Competition Application

by: Josh Wolsky | August 17, 2015

Kent County Michigan and the City of Grand Rapids are competing for the same $1 billion in federal funding that Minot is through the National Disaster Resiliency Competition. Want to see what direction they’re taking their application? There are a few similarities, check it out here.

Read & Share sourced from: MichiganLive.com

It’s Back (Almost) — Victoria Bridge Lifted Into Place

by: Josh Wolsky | July 17, 2015

The Victoria Bridge was lifted into place this morning. It will be some time before the paths and connecting areas are open to pedestrian traffic, but this is still a welcome sign of progress.

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