Traill, Steele County residents urged to be diligent about flood awareness
News Release – 4-11-2023
HILLSBORO – The Traill County and Steele County sheriff’s departments are urging area
residents to prepare for potential spring flooding and increase their awareness of local flood-
related conditions.
Heavier-than-usual precipitation the past few months, combined with an upcoming stretch of
warmer weather and possible precipitation, increase the odds of overland flooding and higher
river levels in the upcoming weeks.
“Spring flooding is always a concern in this area and this year is no different,” said Traill County
Sheriff Steve Hunt. “We want to urge residents to be aware of the water levels in the area,
especially when you take into consideration the runoff that can occur after a faster melt, which
we might see this week.”
Residents are encouraged to check their sump pumps and prepare for the possibility of overland
flooding.
“Obviously we’re hoping for a gradual melt, but last year showed us what can happen with a
rapid melt combined with additional precipitation,” added Steele County Sheriff Wayne
Beckman. “This week’s forecast calls for potential precipitation Thursday through Sunday, at
least, so residents need to prepare for any worst-case scenarios, even if we hope we won’t see
them.”
As of today, April 11, the National Weather Services is urging residents to make sure street
drains are clear, clear paths around home foundations and move any valuables off basement
floors. Additional flood preparedness information is available at www.weather.gov/safety/flood-
before.
Ben Gates, emergency manager for Steele County and assistant emergency manager for Traill
County, also encourages residents to call if they anticipate needing sandbags or other flood-related supplies. He and Hunt provided the following list of contacts for Traill County, which
likely could see more flooding than Steele County:
Traill County Sheriff Steve Hunt
PO Box 279 | Hillsboro, ND 58045
701-636-4510
Steele County Sheriff Wayne Beckman
PO Box 171 | Finley, ND 58230
701-524-2742
SANDBAGS:
Mayville
Karl Jorgenson – 701-430-2061
Charlie Moen – 701-330-7605
Hillsboro
Traill County Highway Department – 701-636-4341
Elsewhere in Traill County
Traill County Highway Department – 701-636-4341
(After hours, call Traill County Dispatch at 701-636-4510.)
POLY SHEETING:
Mayville
Mayport Hardware Hank – 701-788-2836
Crane Johnson Lumberyard – 701-786-3321
Hillsboro
Olsen Hardware – 701-636-4151
Hillsboro Lumber – 701-636-4301
SAND:
Paulson Gravel – 701-430-0202
Lakeside/Strand – 701-361-8097
Traill County also is seeking volunteers to assist with filling sandbags today (Tuesday), April 11
and Thursday, April 13 in one-hour shifts from 10 a.m. through the afternoon. Gates said the city
of Mayville had secured the use of a Mega-Sandbagger machine, which requires about six
volunteers per hour. Volunteers can convene at the Mayville Fire Department at 213 2 nd Ave.
N.E. in Mayville.
Sandbags will be sold to residents who need them for 50 cents per filled bag.
For more information, contact any of the previously listed emergency operations personnel. All
area residents are encouraged to follow Traill-Steele Emergency Management on Facebook
(https://www.facebook.com/traillsteelejointinformation) and Twitter
(https://twitter.com/ts_emergency), local media outlets and the National Weather Service
(https://www.weather.gov/) for updates.