Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken along with Congressman Collin Peterson urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to strengthen federal efforts in the Red River Valley. In a letter to FEMA Administrator, Craig Fugate, the members requested that FEMA take immediate steps to coordinate flood mitigation efforts and prepare to respond swiftly to any flood damage. The National Weather Service recently forecast that the Red River Valley region is again facing the possible flooding at record levels this spring.
“We write to bring to your attention the potential for devastating flooding along the Red River of the North this spring, and ask for your immediate assistance to plan, prepare and coordinate flood protection efforts, which communities have already initiated, to facilitate FEMA’s timely response to any damage once the water recedes,” said the members in the letter.
The letter additionally highlighted the need to for timely completion of mitigation and reduction efforts from the 2009 flood to help prevent further flood damages and allow for the easier construction of temporary levees to better protect communities, not just individual homes.
