The Next Step in Flood Recovery | Video

Amy Fox | 10/22/2012

For a family of six, living in a 3 bedroom FEMA trailer is not exactly home sweet home.

"It`s definitely cramped,” said Minot Flood Victim Clint Cone. “We`ve been in it for just over a year now, so nerves are getting thin."

But, with no where else to go, rebuilding was Cone’s only hope.

"Honestly, we had no choice with the housing around here, there was no where else for me to go around here," said Cone.

With Cone`s home nearly complete, he hopes all the hard work will last.

"Now we`re building, but it`s a fear I could see happening again."

Now, city officials are looking to adopt an Enhanced Flood Protection Plan to reduce the number of risks associated with the Mouse River.

"It may not have the higher dikes and to a certain flow we would be able to build on top of it if there were that type of emergency," Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman.

While city officials have already adopted a flood protection plan, they’re working closely with the North Dakota State Water Commission to conduct research on the water levels. But, residents living near the river have mixed emotions about this.

"It would hinge upon the money they would offer and whether I could find somewhere else to live," said Cone.

"They might have a fight on their hands,” said Terrance Lowrie. “Yeah, I wouldn`t be happy by any means. No."

Once the new flood protection plan is finalized, the city is planning to purchase homes in the line of the footprint design. But, people like Terrance Lowrie believe the city should look to the Fargo for flood advice.

"They turned some of the areas over there in the state parks, so the state received money from the state parks, you know, let them flood and then they go back in and clean them up and then they`re ready to be used again," said Lowrie.
Until a new plan is fully in place, people living near the river can only hope the waters stay calm.

It could take the city more than 10 years to finalize its Enhanced Flood Protection Plan.

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