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<br />DESCRIPTION OF EVENT <br /> <br />North Dakota experienced substantial damage from flooding and severe storms <br />throughout the central and eastern portions of the state during the spring of <br />1999. This damage resulted in a Presidential disaster declaration <br />(DR-1279-ND) on June 8, 1999. The incident period of the disaster began on <br />March 1, 1999 and closed on July 19, 1999. The entire state was designated <br />for Hazard Mitigation assistance from the date of declaration. A total of 34 <br />counties and three Indian reservations were initially designated for Public <br />Assistance (PA) and Individual Assistance (IA). These include: Barnes; Benson; <br />Bottineau; Burleigh; Cass; Dickey; Emmons; Foster; Grand Forks; Griggs; <br />Kidder; LaMoure; Logan; McHenry; Mcintosh; McLean; Mountrail; Nelson; <br />Pembina; Pierce; Ramsey; Ransom; Renville; Richland; Rolette; Sargent; <br />Sheridan; Steele; Stutsman; Towner; Traill; Walsh; Ward and Wells Counties, <br />and the Indian reservations of the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe, Three Affiliated <br />Tribes, and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. The Indian reservation of <br />the Standing Rock Sioux (that portion in North Dakota), and Burke, Cavalier, <br />Eddy, Divide, Morton, Sioux and Williams Counties were later added to the <br />declared counties for PA and IA. Mercer County was designated for IA. The <br />declaration covered damage to private and public property from severe storms, <br />flooding, snow and ice, ground saturation, landslides, mudslides and tornadoes. <br /> <br />Above-normal soil moisture throughout North Dakota, compounded by seven <br />years of flooding and additional precipitation, resulted in overland, river and <br />flash flooding, and ground movement (landslides and mudslides). Severe high <br />winds associated with storm and tornado activity contributed to ongoing <br />problems faced by North Dakota's residents. Excessive precipitation on lands <br />with high water tables damaged infrastructure (including roads and utilities), <br />agriculture and residential properties on public, private, and tribal lands and <br />threatened the public health and safety of residents and the economic well- <br />being of the state. <br /> <br />Flood damage to transportation infrastructure included water overtopping roads, <br />groundwater and standing surface water soaking into and damaging road <br />grades. Landslides and mudslides resulting from soil instability compromised <br />utilities, homes and other structures. Chronic and continuous flooding <br />represented a serious threat to increasing the response time of fire, medical <br />and other public safety emergency vehicles. Movement of commodities and <br />supplies via roads and rails were seriously constrained. <br /> <br />Farmers were unable to plant crops or delayed planting due to wet fields, which <br />resulted in substantial loss of income. Homeowners combated continual <br />basement flooding, non-functioning septic tanks and structural damage to <br />property. <br /> <br />2 <br />