[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 21, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5022]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 313--COMMEMORATING THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
               SOURIS RIVER FLOOD IN MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA

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

                              S. Res. 313

       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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