DISASTER RECOVERY 2011 North Dakota Flood Linda Butts

DISASTER RECOVERY 2011 North Dakota Flood Linda Butts, Deputy Director for Driver and Vehicle Services, North Dakota Department of Transportation

FLOODING THE STATE

N. D. DISASTER RECOVERY TASK FORCE § North Dakota has a Disaster Recovery Task Force which guides state level efforts, resources and programs to assist individuals, businesses and communities with recovery needs relating to: § § housing infrastructure repair economic recovery and community resiliency.

TASK FORCE OBJECTIVES Objectives: § Identify short-term and long-term needs and priorities of North Dakotans impacted by unprecedented, prolonged flooding. § Develop a strategy for recovery to: § § § Protect consumers by ensuring proper licensure of contractors and educating citizens about potential fraudulent practices. Assist local and tribal governments to remediate environmental hazards and ensure safe restoration of infrastructure needed for individuals to live healthy and safely. Secure adequate and safe housing for displaced citizens.

TASK FORCE ENCOMPASSES MANY AGENCIES North Dakota’s task force consists of members from 32 state agencies. During disasters the state task force members bring their federal partners to the meeting, including: • Federal Emergency Management Agency • U. S. Army Corps of Engineers • U. S. Customs and Border Protection • U. S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development • U. S. Environmental Protection Agency • U. S. Housing and Urban Development • U. S. Small Business Administration • OSHA – Technical Assistance

DISASTER RECOVERY NEEDS DETERMINED All members meet to determine needs and then break out into subcommittees to work on the disaster plan. Subcommittees cover the following areas: • Environmental Health and Infrastructure • Consumer Protection • Individual Assistance and Disaster Housing • Economic Recovery

DISASTER HITS MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA � Sirens were sounded in Minot just after 1 p. m. on June 22 as thousands of residents were forced to evacuate. � Minot’s Flood of 2011 reached a record level of 1, 561. 7 feet above sea level. � This beat the Minot flood of 1969 by 6. 3 feet.

RECORD FLOODING 40 Hours to evacuate � 1, 200 thousands residents displaced � 4, 000 homes & businesses destroyed �

MINOT, N. D. - JUNE 21 - 9: 55 P. M. PRE-FLOOD

MINOT, N. D. - JUNE 24 - 11: 03 A. M. (2 ½ DAYS)

MINOT, N. D. - JUNE 25 – 1: 35 P. M (26 HOURS)

MINOT, N. D. - JUNE 25 – 6: 11 P. M. (4 ½ HOURS)

MINOT, N. D. - JULY 1– 8: 33 P. M. (6 DAYS LATER)

MINOT, N. D. - JULY 11 – 6: 08 P. M. (10 DAYS LATER)

MINOT, N. D. - JULY 17 – 9: 52 A. M. (6 DAYS LATER) Total = 26 Days

STATE AGENCIES WORKED TOGETHER � Attorney General � � � Secretary of State � � Unemployment Insurance Registration North Dakota National Guard � � Workers Compensation Registration Job Service North Dakota � � Sales/Use Tax Permit Registration IIT Withholding Workforce Safety and Insurance � � Contractor Licensing Business Registration Office of State Tax Commissioner � � Consumer Protection Bureau of Criminal Investigation Facilitation/Keeping Order City of Minot � Limited local licensing requirements

MULTI-AGENCY COMPLIANCE CENTER - MINOT One Stop Shop Contractor Licenses � Transient Merchant Licenses � Workforce Safety Insurance � Sales & Use Tax Permits � Unemployment Accounts � Contractors and clean-up related business are critical to ensuring an efficient and orderly recovery effort. It is important that they meet requirements of North Dakota law, including appropriate licenses and permits in order to work in the state.

EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT FRAUD “This one-stop center will be a very effective way to prevent fraudulent contractors from taking advantage of Minot residents, but at the same time it will expedite the process of licensing for reputable contractors who are needed in Minot. ” - North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple

ONE STOP CENTER PHOTO ID CARD � All individuals, including workers working for licensed contractors, were issued a One Stop Center Photo Identification card so that home and business owners could easily determine that both the company and the individual employee were properly licensed and bonded with the state. � The photo identification also will indicated if the licensee was a registered sex offender. � Home and business owners, along with the general public, were told that anyone needing to rebuild or repair flood damaged property should ask to see the photo identification card issued by the One Stop Center before doing business with a contractor. � The ID card was intended to provide reassurance to home and business owners that the contractor had complied with state licensing requirements.

CONTRACTOR BACKGROUND CHECKS � Criminal history and background including sex offender identification � Individual Photo ID � Application, licensing and registration

BENEFITS TO COMMUNITY � Ability to assist in case of consumer complaint � Get everything needed in one place � Ensure businesses had insurance for injured workers � Liability insurance to protect residential and commercial property owners

ONE STOP SHOP HOURS OF OPERATION � The One Stop Shop center’s services were offered for approximately nine weeks. � Hours of operation were 8: 30 a. m. to 5: 30 p. m. , Monday through Friday, with some extended and weekend hours.

COMPLIANCE CENTER RESULTS Operational from July 11 to September 9 � 4, 094 Photo ID’s and licenses issued � 505 Contractors licensed/registered � 23 individuals arrested on outstanding warrants.

MEDIA COVERAGE � Publicized through a news conference on July 7, 2011, while simultaneously sending out a news release. � The media covered the One Stop Shop throughout the nine-week stretch. � It was also promoted via the Disaster Recovery Centers and several agency web sites. FEMA Video: http: //www. fema. gov/medialibrary/media_records/5310 �

FIRST CENTER SET UP DURING 1997 FLOOD � A similar One Stop Shop was set up in Grand Forks following the 1997 flood. � First one of its kind in the nation. � It proved to one of the great success stories coming out of the Grand Forks flood and recovery effort.

MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE OFFICES MOVED With short notice we moved and relocated the Minot Motor Vehicle Branch Office and Drivers License Office during the flooding emergency. Motor Vehicle Office was Relocated to Minot Chamber of Commerce office Drivers License was moved to Minot DOT District Office.

POST FLOOD PICTURE - DL AND MV OFFICES

BISMARCK FLOOD – SOUTHPORT AREA

DISASTERS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE � Natural Disasters can happen anywhere and anytime. � Be prepared and have a plan. Bismarck home swept away by the Missouri River