Extreme Weather 2019: Emergency Protocols Initiated In North Dakota

Emergency plans are being enacted in North Dakota in the face of a “crippling” snowstorm. Gov. Dug Burgum confirmed on Friday that the state’s emergency protocols would be put into effect following a storm that has so far closed major roadways and inflicted major crop and livestock losses for the state’s farmers.

“The extraordinary intensity of this early winter storm threatens to test the limits of local response capabilities across a large portion of our state,” Burgum said. These protocols put all of North Dakota’s state resources on standby for all weather-related emergencies, ensuring that “citizens have the resources necessary to respond and recover from this crippling event,” as Burgum described.

A blizzard warning is in effect for northern North Dakota through Saturday afternoon, while other parts of the state, as well as parts of South Dakota and Minnesota, are under winter storm watches and warnings, per the National Weather Service. Winds of up to 65 miles-per-hour and snowfall of 1-2 feet were expected throughout Friday in the parts of North Dakota hit hardest by the storm, the Associated Press reported.

Over a foot of snow has already fallen on Bismarck, the state’s capital, throughout October, with a further four inches predicted by Saturday afternoon.

Elsewhere, in the northeastern town of Devils Lake, roughly two feet of snow has fallen as of Saturday.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol has reported over a dozen road rescues so far on account of the storm, including one bus carrying 42 passengers.

“These are unheard of amounts for any time of year,” Grand Forks meteorologist Carl Jones said about the storms so far.