GFMEDC Statement on 2010 Flood Fight

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fargo, N.D. (March 17, 2010) –

            In response to discussions with officials from the City of Fargo, Cass County, and Clay County about the importance of executing flood protection measures while maintaining critical business activities, the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation (GFMEDC) supports the following measures during the days leading up to the crest:
   1. We urge business and public support of sandbagging efforts, when possible, if those efforts do not cause a significant disruption of the critical functions or cause harm to the economic viability of the business.
    2. We urge businesses to consider changes in operation, including shift hours and delivery times, to alleviate traffic in peak traffic times to limit congestion on roads.  Those peak times are 8:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 5:00 pm.  If possible, allow employees to work from home and when possible avoid or minimize travel during the lunch hour to alleviate traffic.
   3. We encourage businesses and the public to monitor and avoid streets used heavily in the flood fighting effort.  
   4. We encourage businesses and their employees to stay abreast of ongoing developments regarding flood fighting efforts to avoid primary flood fighting corridors.
   5. In cases where the property of an individual or a business is directly threatened, as has been the case in the past, we would expect that proper judgment is and will be used on a case by case basis to provide an appropriate response.  
   The GFMEDC understands the threat of a catastrophic flood event would create the need for more extreme measures, and in that case, we will work with city and county elected officials and staff to ensure the proper protection of the city while allowing essential businesses, which are those involved in delivery of essential services along with those critical to the long-term viability of the regional economy, to maintain operations. 
   The GFMEDC thanks all the businesses, volunteers, city and county state and elected officials and staff who are putting in countless hours to protect the region during this year’s flood fight.    

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