Public Participation Creates Recovery Projects 

Hundreds Attend Long-Term Recovery Meetings in Minot and Burlington

Release Date: October 6,
BISMARCK, N.D. -- More affordable housing and further shopping options, downtown redevelopment and additional green spaces, a revitalized zoo and better communications with Canada on water issues, were among the hundreds of ideas that emerged from three community open houses held Sept. 19-24 in Minot and Burlington.

More than 500 area residents attended meetings, during which they had an opportunity to quiz long-term recovery experts, view display boards on various long-term recovery topics and write comments or suggestions on yellow sticky notes about how they would like their communities to look and feel five to 15 years from now and beyond.

More than 2,300 suggestions were posted, many with multiple ideas and comments. FEMA’s Long-Term Recovery Team is currently sorting through those comments – as well as multiple interviews carried out in Minot and Ward County since July – to identify potential long-term community recovery projects.

All unedited comments are posted at three different websites: http://www.fema.gov/goodbye/goodbye.jsp?url=http://www.minotnd.org/, http://www.fema.gov/goodbye/goodbye.jsp?url=www.rallyminot.com and http://www.fema.gov/goodbye/goodbye.jsp?url=http://www.facebook.com/minotnorthdakota.