06.24.14

Hoeven Announces Over $6 Million in FEMA Funds for Additional Flood Protection Infrastructure, Home Buyouts

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded more than $6 million in funds for flood protection in the City of Fargo and Cass County. The details of the funding follow:

  • Cass County Home Buyouts – $4.2 million federal share – These funds will support the acquisition and demolition of 38 flood-prone properties in Cass County, bringing the total federal contribution towards Cass County buyouts to nearly $16 million.
  • Broadway Intercept Sewer System Improvement Project – $2 million federal share – These funds will support flood protection for Fargo’s sanitation system, minimizing the risk of sanitary sewer backup into public and private property during wet weather conditions. The award compliments the over $2 million in federal funds awarded since 2011 for other sewer and water improvements, including a circular berm for the Fargo Waste Water Treatment Plant as well as lift station improvements and relocations, which help move water out of the city and back to the river.

“We have been working to develop a comprehensive approach to flood protection for the entire Red River Valley,” Hoeven said. “These FEMA funds are an important part of that larger plan. They will help protect homes and businesses in Fargo from sewer backups while also providing buyouts for some of our most vulnerable homes, making way for dikes and levees to further protect the City of Fargo and other residents and businesses located throughout Cass County.”

The FEMA grant for Cass County is part of a comprehensive flood protection plan for the Red River Valley that Hoeven has advanced, including:

  • Permanent flood protection for Fargo-Moorhead. To date, we have secured $35 million for project engineering and design (PED). Now funding can go to project construction.
  • Upstream flood protection is necessary. We need to continue to make sure upstream concerns are addressed through programs like the RCPP. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently named the Red River Valley as part of a critical conservation area under RCPP. Hoeven worked as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and conferee on the 2014 farm bill conference committee to create the RCPP program and provide funding for rural water management and flood protection. The designation will make resources available for upstream flood protection efforts in the Red River Valley.
  • Dikes, levees and other flood protection infrastructure within the Fargo-Moorhead area.
  • Affordable flood insurance premiums for homes and businesses.