[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 313 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 313

Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Souris River flood in Minot, 
                             North Dakota.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 21, 2021

    Mr. Hoeven (for himself and Mr. Cramer) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Souris River flood in Minot, 
                             North Dakota.

Whereas, in late June 2011, the city of Minot, North Dakota, and surrounding 
        communities were inundated by widespread flooding;
Whereas high soil moisture content, above-average snow pack, and persistent 
        spring and summer precipitation produced record-level flooding 
        throughout the Souris River Basin;
Whereas, in June 2011, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority informed communities 
        downstream that ``reservoirs [had] no capacity to store further 
        inflows'';
Whereas, on June 22, 2011, following continued releases from upstream 
        reservoirs, water began to overtop levees in the city of Minot, 
        resulting in a mandatory evacuation and the displacement of 11,000 Minot 
        residents;
Whereas nearly 11,500 acres in Ward County were covered in 2 to 15 feet of 
        water, impacting nearly 4,800 structures;
Whereas the river's flow peaked at 27,000 cubic feet per second, resulting in 
        almost as much water moving through Minot in June 2011 as in the entire 
        year of 1976, which was the previous all-time annual flow record;
Whereas, on June 26, 2011, the river crested at 1,561.72 feet above sea level, a 
        Minot record;
Whereas the floodwater destroyed 4,100 homes, 250 businesses, and numerous 
        schools, parks, churches, and other public infrastructure at a cost of 
        as much as $1,000,000,000;
Whereas floodwater created national security concerns by temporarily blocking 
        access to some intercontinental ballistic missile facilities operated by 
        personnel at Minot Air Force Base;
Whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided more than 1,500 
        temporary housing units to address the agency's third largest housing 
        mission in its history to date;
Whereas the people of Minot and surrounding communities demonstrated resilience 
        and worked together to help their fellow neighbors in a time of need;
Whereas Federal, State, and local officials and agencies coordinated to provide 
        immediate recovery assistance;
Whereas Congress provided hundreds of millions of dollars in disaster relief and 
        recovery funding to assist the city of Minot and the surrounding region;
Whereas the people of Minot and surrounding communities continue to deal with 
        the effects of the flood, including efforts to construct permanent flood 
        protection in the Minot area; and
Whereas 2021 marks the tenth anniversary of the Souris River flood in Minot, 
        North Dakota: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commemorates the tenth anniversary of the Souris River 
        flood in Minot, North Dakota;
            (2) expresses sympathy to people in the Souris River Basin 
        and condolences to the families who lost their homes or 
        businesses;
            (3) commends the resilience of the people in the Souris 
        River Basin and their commitment to recovery and rebuilding; 
        and
            (4) expresses gratitude and appreciation to State and local 
        leaders, first responders, and the North Dakota National Guard 
        for protecting the people of the Souris River Basin.
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