Hope for the devastated city of Minot

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica McConnell
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT, N.D. --  A press conference held at city hall here June 26 offered a shred of good news for those residents, Airmen, and family members impacted by Minot's record-shattering floods during the month of June.

The mayor announced that the Souris River measured at 1561.72 feet late in the evening of June 25 and had receded to 1561.57 feet as of 3 p.m., June 26.

Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman cautiously stated, "We feel the river has probably crested." Officials stated that the National Weather Service would not officially pronounce the river as being crested for another few days.

The mayor said that Broadway will remain closed for at least one more week to allow for uninterrupted building of the secondary dike system. Only emergency vehicles will be allowed through.

North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple said two disaster recovery centers are scheduled to open June 27, operating between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. One location is the Minot City Auditorium; the second location is the Minot State University Student Center.

Impacted residents needing to register for assistance do not need to visit a center. Displaced persons can register by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by visiting the website www.disasterassistance.gov.

Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, the North Dakota National Guard adjutant general, said he was very happy with the assistance the National Guard has been receiving from the Airmen at Minot Air Force Base.

"We have been working very closely with the air force base," said the general. "That unified effort has really paid off. I greatly appreciate the contribution from Minot AFB. We continue to respond to quick reaction force needs, supporting the city and the Army Corps of Engineers. We continue to provide security, traffic control, aerial evacuations, and placement of one-ton sandbags. These are all ongoing things."

Minot's boil water order is still in effect and will be until further notice. This boil water order also applies to Minot AFB.

Jason Sorenson, the Minot Water Treatment Plant superintendent, said the breach that possibly caused water contamination has been fixed.

"The plant continues to put out clean water," he said. "Please understand it takes time for something that happened at the plant to work its way out of the system."

Mr. Sorenson reinforced the fact that everyone at the plant is doing the best they can and just want to make sure they can provide the city and surrounding areas with water for sanitation, at the very least.

For information on how to decontaminate tap water, visit www.fdhu.org.