Minot Airmen affected by flood seek shelter

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica McConnell
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT, N.D. (AFNS) --  Flooding caused by the springtime snow-melt, saturated ground and heavy rainfall led emergency management officials to evacuate more than 10,000 Minot residents, in areas near the Souris River in downtown Minot May 31, including more than 500 Airmen and families assigned here who live off-base.

According to Minot Emergency Operations Center officials, the evacuation area affects about one quarter of the city, including a large section of downtown Minot. Officials expect river levels to rise significantly by June 2. Rainfall over the past week has flooded the Minot area, which led to the closing of three bridges and a major roadway.

In response to the rising waters and evacuation of homes, Col. James Dawkins, the 5th Bomb Wing commander, offered on-base emergency shelter to all Minot area Air Force Global Strike Command military members, DOD civilians and their families if they were unable to secure accommodations with friends or family.

Mayor Curt Zimbelman ordered mandatory evacuations to be completed by June 1, when the Souris River was expected to crest above flood stage. North Dakota Guardsmen were patrolling door-to-door on the evening of June 1 to ensure all residents within the flood zone were out of potential harm's way.

Army Corps of Engineers officials report they will be working with city officials to aggressively to fight the flood using all available resources. They will be working on the existing and secondary dike systems, officials said.

Due to the heavy influx of evacuees at shelters downtown, off-base Airmen and DOD employees living in the evacuation zone have been encouraged to seek shelter with family or friends, if available, or use on-base emergency shelters.