These include resources of the Department of Emergency Services, National Guard, Department of Transportation, Highway Patrol, Department of Human Services, Department of Health, State Water Commission and other agencies with emergency response functions.

North Dakota is experiencing brutal winter conditions, marked by precipitation, freezing temperatures and high winds. These weather conditions have contributed to power outages all across the state, in the form of downed power lines and poles. These same conditions have also impeded repair progress. Electric Utility Companies and Co-ops are working hard to restore power to affected customers.

“Our number one concern is the safety of North Dakotans. We urge take the following steps to ensure their safety,” said Greg Wilz, N.D. Division of Homeland Security Director.
TRAVEL

A “No Travel Advisory” has been issued for the entire state. If you must leave your home/business due to power outage, please ensure that you have a clear destination in mind, and your vehicle has a complete winter survival kit (blankets, food, water, extra warm clothing, etc.) in the event you become stranded while trying to reach shelter. Remember that exposed skin can quickly lead to frost-bite.

DOWNED POWER LINES
Please report downed power lines to your local power company or call 911 – never approach them.

POWER OUTAGE
If your home or business is affected by an extended power outage during a period of freezing weather, please consider following precautions:
Never use generators, ovens, grills, or other gasoline-, propane-, or charcoal-burning devices inside your home, garage, or carport or near doors, windows, or vents. They produce carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that can be lethal to humans and pets. If using gas or wood-burning fireplaces, ensure they are properly ventilated.
Do not use any generator hooked directly to your home unless it has been installed by a licensed electrical contractor. Improper generator hooked up to homes, can endanger the lives of residents and utility employees working to restore power. NEVER PLUG a generator into a wall outlet as serious injury can result of this action due to current fed back into electrical lines.
Instead, connect lights and appliances directly to generators not hooked directly to structure’s electrical system by a licensed electrician.

LEAVING YOUR HOME/BUSINESS
Over the next few days, there may be situations where individuals may choose to evacuate to shelters, family or friends. Please be aware that insurance policies generally require steps to prevent damage from occurring. Generally, this means maintaining heat when possible and/or shutting off and draining water systems. If these steps are not taken, residents would potentially not have coverage for subsequent freezing damage. The best solution is for a licensed plumber to winterize your home. If a plumber is not available, shut off water outside of your home/business if possible at the “stop box” or “well”. Shut off power or gas to your water heater and drain it and all water lines. Winterize all appliances using water per manufacturer’s instructions (water heaters, refrigerators, dehumidifiers, clothes and dish washers). If your electrical fuse panel has been submerged by water, tell your power company to shut off your electricity immediately and call a licensed electrical contractor.

OTHER EVACUATION CONSIDERATIONS:
Be sure to take your medications with you and make provisions for your pets.
Have a full tank of gas in your vehicle and charged cell phone, batteries for radios and flashlights.

Contact your county emergency manager for details on available shelters and for other information.

More tips and information on the web at:
North Dakota Department of Emergency Services http://www.nd.gov/des
North Dakota Department of Transportation Road Conditions http://www.dot.nd.gov/
North Dakota Department of Health http://www.ndhealth.gov/
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) http://www.bt.cdc.gov/

Please call Morton County Emergency Management, phone 667-3307. Then to apply for assistance, call toll-free to 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. CST, or register anytime on-line at www.disasterassistance.gov.

This news release has been posted to www.cityofmandan.com.

PLEASE USE CAUTION.  WITH THE FORECAST OF MORE RAIN, THIS ROAD IS SUBJECT TO FLOODING.  DO NOT DRIVE THRU WATER THAT IS RUNNING OVER THE ROAD. 

FROM:           
JEFF HEINTZ
DIRECTOR OF SERVICE OPERATIONS

Apple Creek Road (between Yegen Rd and 93rd Street SE)
66th Street NE (between Highway 10 and Northgate Dr)

Residents will need to take an alternate route. 

Contact:      
Mary Senger
Burleigh County Emergency Manager
701-222-6727

Filled sandbags are available at the Missouri Valley Fairgrounds. Utilize the north entrance off of Hwy 10.

Contact:
Mary Senger
Burleigh County Emergency Manager
701-222-6727

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Bismarck Burleigh Public Health Recommendations for Social Distancing During a Flu Outbreak

Bismarck, N.D. – Bismarck Burleigh Public Health offers the following recommendations about things you can do to lessen the spread of flu.  Limiting close face-to-face contacts with other people is an important protective behavior to limit the risks of exposures from droplet, aerosol, or contact transmission in the event of a flu outbreak.  Simply put, ‘social distancing’ is a way of ‘keeping our distance’ from each other to lessen the spread of flu to help slow the spread of disease and is an important tool in this influenza outbreak.
 
Things you can do to lessen the spread of Flu
-  Practice social distancing:
-  Consider  limiting the frequency of face-to-face contacts
-  Consider limiting casual (social) interactions that may normally occur at work and throughout the day
-  Do not report to work if you are sick
-  Take staggered break times at work
-  Establish flexible work hours or an alternative
-  Consider using e-mail, text messaging and personal mobile phones to communicate instead of face-to-face contact
-  Think about the necessity of conferences and group gatherings during an influenza outbreak

For more information visit www.bismarck.org, call Bismarck Burleigh Public Health at 701.355.1540 or visit
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/swineflu_you.htm

BISMARCK, N.D. – Bismarck Burleigh Public Health offers these recommendations for citizens regarding H1N1 Swine Flu.

Things you can do to lessen the spread of flu
• If you are sick you should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading the infection to others.
• If you are sick you should not travel on any mode of public transportation.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Wash hands frequently.
• People experiencing cough, fever and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting should contact their doctor.
• If you have recently traveled to an area with confirmed cases, make sure your doctor knows your travel history.

Symptoms
• Fever great than 100.4 F
• Runny nose or nasal congestion
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Symptom onset within 7 days of:
*  Close contact with a person who is a confirmed case of H1N1 swine influenza within 7 days of symptom onset.  Close contact is defined as: within 6 feet of an ill person who is a confirmed or suspected case of swine flu during the case’s infectious period.
*  Travel to a community in the US, or internationally, with 1 or more confirmed swine flu cases.

For more information please visit www.bismarck.org or http://www.ndflu.com/swineflu/ or call Bismarck Burleigh Public Health at 701.355.1540.

PRESS CONFERENCE AGENDA

1. Mayor John Warford
a. Introduction of Board of Health members and guests

2. Dr. Guy Tangedahl, Bismarck Health Officer
a. Swine Flu

3. Cheryl Underhill, South West Central Emergency Response & Preparedness Coordinator
a. Preparedness and Prevention

4. Paula Flanders, Director, Bismarck Burleigh Public Health
a. Public Health’s Role

5. Commissioner Steve Schwab
a. Resource acquisition authority for emergency preparedness and response efforts

LINCOLN ROAD REMAINS CLOSED

Bismarck, ND –Lincoln Road will remain closed until further notice.  Water is off the road making the road appear safe for travel; however, engineers have observed structural failures through the road base along several culverts.  Thorough inspection and repairs will take place after water recedes completely away from the road. 

Again, Lincoln Road remains closed until further notice.