News

BISMARCK, N.D. – As families prepare to enjoy North Dakota’s outdoor destinations over the Memorial Day weekend, residents and visitors are encouraged to recreate responsibly by practicing fire safety and prevention. While recent moisture has provided some relief from fire starts over the past few weeks, dry conditions persist in some areas of the state.

BISMARCK, N.D. — Lending an “eye in the sky” over areas encased in heavy snow in northwestern North Dakota, members of the North Dakota Wing, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) have been capturing aerial imagery to support power restoration operations. Volunteers began flying missions Wednesday after being requested through the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services to assist with recovery from the weekend’s spring blizzard, which toppled power lines throughout the area leaving homes without electricity.

BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Doug Burgum today met with local officials, residents and ranchers in Crosby and other parts of Divide County in far northwest North Dakota to survey infrastructure damage from last weekend’s severe spring storm and discuss how the state can help the area recover from widespread power outages.

BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Doug Burgum today declared a statewide emergency for flooding and widespread utility infrastructure damage caused by a severe winter storm last weekend that has left thousands of North Dakotans without electricity. The governor also has declared a disaster for areas impacted by record snowfall during the historic blizzard April 12-14 based on local costs incurred for snow removal.

BISMARCK, N.D. – Representatives from several state agencies including the Governor’s Office, North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) and the Department of Emergency Services gathered today to review the framework for responding to a potential major cybersecurity incident.

BISMARCK, N.D. – As hot weather and dry conditions have provided ample fuels for an active wildfire season, the North Dakota Forest Service and North Dakota Department of Emergency Services recently initiated a program to augment the state’s firefighting capabilities and resources.

BISMARCK, N.D. – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has requested flexibility on failed acres from United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Acting Risk Management Agency (USDA-RMA) Administrator Richard Flournoy due to the drought.

According to data collected by the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services and North Dakota Forest Service, nearly 1,400 fires have scorched more than 100,000 acres across the state since January 2021.

BISMARCK – North Dakota’s farmers and ranchers who have sold, or are considering selling, livestock because of drought face the prospect of a higher income tax bill due to the unplanned sales. Special federal income tax rules are available to producers who find it necessary to sell more livestock than they normally would because of drought.

The Water Commission on Tuesday, June 8, approved an additional $2 million in funding for the Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Assistance Program (Program). In total, $4.1 million has been authorized through multiple approvals since the Program was reactivated in April 2021.