Grand Forks 1997 Flood Recovery: Building Back Better
Renewed, Rebuilt, Reborn
Still reeling from the heartache of a city devastated to its core, Grand Forks leaders and residents made the decision in 1997 to fight back against the forces of nature. So they set out to rebuild their city with idea of better protecting it in the future from the tragedy of the past. To Grand Forks, rebuilding wasn’t just about fixing damaged structures or constructing new ones. It also was about taking steps to help minimize the impact of another flood.
Mitigation – techniques that reduce or prevent future disaster damages – was incorporated throughout the city, from public buildings to houses and private businesses. Local leaders included mitigation elements in the city’s rebuilding and encouraged citizens and businesses to do the same. They required that rebuilding comply with pre-disaster floodplain ordinances.
Today, the city’s critical infrastructure, government buildings, even its official records are better protected.
Learn how Grand Forks has rebuilt itself to be safer and stronger
Last Modified: Wednesday, 18-Apr-2007 16:22:55 EDT