News

North Dakota Department of Emergency Services and the National Weather Service regional offices are hosting the second-annual coloring contest to promote Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week in North Dakota.

Two wildland fires started in McKenzie County near Watford City yesterday, March 27.  When local resources were overwhelmed, officials within the State Emergency Operations Center dispatched state resources to join the fight.

BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Kelly Armstrong today signed an executive order declaring a statewide fire emergency and activating the State Emergency Operations Plan as above average temperatures and below average precipitation continue to exacerbate drought conditions and increase the risk of wildfires.

Lower than average precipitation and above average temperatures are combining to look like an earlier and longer spring fire season for North Dakota.

The planned outage affecting multiple North Dakota counties' 911 service has been rescheduled and is now expected to only impact certain landlines.

Alternative numbers are available if the planned maintenance results in an interruption of 911 service in the affected counties.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced low interest disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by adverse weather.  Small businesses and private nonprofit organizations in North Dakota are now eligible to apply.

$20 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda will help communities purchase firefighting slip-on tanker units to expand local wildfire response capacity.

In a letter directed to President Joe Biden through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Burgum requested a major disaster be declared for the period of Oct. 5-6 for Williams and McKenzie counties. 

Drought and fire, in combination this fall, will have a negative impact on forage production the next year.