DISASTER STATISTICS
SCOPE: The N.D. State Water Commission (SWC) reported the Red River flooded up to 2,200 square miles in North Dakota and Minnesota, an area approximately twice the size of Rhode Island. The Red River, approximately 220 miles long in North Dakota, averaged between seven to 10 miles in width at its peak.
DEATHS:  The winter storms and spring floods have claimed the lives of 17 North Dakotans. Deaths have been attributed to hypothermia, heart attacks and drowning. Carbon monoxide poisoning and frostbite have contributed to several injuries.
Approximately 123,000 head of cattle perished during the winter storms and spring flood/blizzard. Of that amount, 90,000 died during the spring flood/blizzard during the April 4-6 weekend.
EQUIPMENT: Response to the disaster has required more than 1,600 pieces of equipment owned by N.D. National Guard, N.D. Air National Guard, North Dakota’s counties, North Dakota contractors, N.D. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Air Force’s Grand Forks and Minot Air Bases.
COUNTIES: Efforts to gain emergency two-way access in North Dakota’s 53 counties jumped 10 percent to a statewide average of 88 percent.  A county-by-county report showed a 50 percent average for push back of snow. In the northwest quadrant, 12 counties and the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation averaged 96 percent emergency access and nearly 83 percent push back of snow.  The 14 counties of the southwest region, including the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, nearly 87 percent access and 75 percent push back of snow. In the northeast, 14 counties and the Spirit Lake and Turtle Mountain Indian Reservations reported an average of 93 percent access and nearly 25 percent push back of snow. The 12 counties in the southeast average 71 percent emergency access and 24 percent push back of snow.
PEOPLE COMMITMENT:
Flood response and recovery required the efforts of 1,886 Air and Army Guard personnel (1,469 Army and 417 Air), representing 22,189 man-days. The N.D. Department of Human Services reports that 181 crisis counselors provided support to more than 10,000 flood survivors. Crisis counseling cost $3.7 million statewide. This program provides counseling services from the N.D. Department of Mental Health to disaster-impacted individuals.
Throughout North Dakota, citizens welcomed flood-displaced people into their homes, making them feel part of their communities. Cities hosted informational gatherings, potlucks and dinners and community events for flood victims. Schools throughout the state opened their classrooms to Grand Forks area students so that they could continue learning. People across the country responded to the plight of the flood survivors by sending money and donated goods.
COSTS:
A total of 36,494 North Dakotans registered damages with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National 
Teleregistration Center. The number is double the combined amount of South Dakota and Minnesota applicants.
More than $211 million of federal and state aid under the Public Assistance program was provided to governmental entities and qualifying not-for-profit organizations to repair damaged infrastructure. Federal funds covered 90 percent of approved costs for eligible projects. The remaining 10 percent was funded at the state and local level.
N.D. Division of Emergency Management (NDDEM) awarded in excess of $14.1 million in grants through its Individual and Family Grant Program (IFG) with $10 million for the city of Grand Forks. More than 30 IFG personnel processed over 23,000 applications. FEMA and State assistance funded on a cost-share basis (75 percent federal and 25 percent state/local) to eligible individuals for serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.
FEMA’s Disaster Housing Assistance provided Grand Forks County with $44.8 million for 21,846 applicants. The program provides individual assistance to pay for things such as minimal home repairs, transient assistance and rental assistance grants. Statewide, FEMA’s Disaster Housing Assistance totaled $54.5 million for 29,756 applicants. Home repair grants for damages were 50 percent above the national average according to FEMA Disaster Housing program officials. The average national grant in 1997 was $2,000 compared to $3,300 for this disaster.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) loaned over $180 million to North Dakota businesses and residents, $20 million over original estimates.
In response to housing needs for flood survivors, FEMA provided $9.8 million to supply travel trailers and mobile homes for 787 
applicants to the Red River Valley.  At the peak of the disaster, 266 were occupied.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP): $75 million in claims paid (City of Grand Forks); $100 million in claims paid statewide. NFIP, managed by FEMA, is a voluntary insurance program that covers losses related to flooding.

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) earmarked $201.3 million in grants for North Dakota from HUD’s Development Disaster Recovery Initiative.
Approximately $13.7 million in federal dollars from the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) has been granted to the city of Grand Forks between 1997 and 2001 to help undertake a myriad of mitigation projects designed to make the city stronger and safer. Mitigation projects have included the acquisition and relocation of properties out of flood zones, protection measures for water treatment plants, installing culverts and other minor flood-control projects.
The HMGP allocated nearly $48 million in funds to provide cost-effective, environmentally-sound and long-term solutions to 
recurring disaster problems. The HMGP, administered by NDDES, approved projects to acquire structures in flood prone areas for the cities of Grand Forks, Fargo, Wahpeton, Drayton, Grafton, Bowesmont, Oxbow, Lisbon, Valley City and Mott along with Cass, Ransom, Sargent, Traill, Walsh, Emmons and Ward counties. The HMGP bought out more than 800 structures statewide to include 483 buildings in Grand Forks. 
Job Service North Dakota (JSND) processed more than $5 million in Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits to people who lost jobs or were temporarily unemployed. This program provided unemployment compensation for individuals not otherwise covered by unemployment benefits whose jobs were affected by the disaster. The Disaster Employment Assistance (DAP), a Job Training Partnership Act Title III program, was also implemented. It provided temporary disaster related jobs for people who lost jobs because of the spring disaster. As of September 30, 1997, a total of 647 individuals have worked at 43 work sites; 346 were still employed.  
The N.D. Office of Intergovernmental Assistance (OIA) allocated more than $4.4 million to date for flood recovery efforts in eastern communities.
At Governor Schafer’s request, the State Industrial Commission approved a $25 million line of credit for the city of Grand Forks. The money covered costs to the city until Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds and other disaster aid arrived.
Over $16.7 million in FEMA issued work orders for mission assignments followed the disasters, paying other federal agencies to perform specific tasks associated with disaster response and recovery. Examples include agencies providing mass feeding, medical support and assistance conducting aerial damage assessments.