2026 Barnes County, North Dakota, Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

Mitigation Survey

This survey is intended to research the impact of natural hazards and man-made threats in Barnes County, North Dakota. Therefore, the survey should be completed by residents of both counties or by people who commute to either county for employment.

The survey consists primarily of multiple-choice questions. The first question is the only one requiring an answer to illustrate jurisdictional participation with FEMA. The responses are not geo-tagged or tracked for location. Your answers will not reveal your identity or location of residence.

Please complete it at your earliest convenience. The survey is tied to the planning process, which has an anticipated completion of August 30, 2026. Completed hard copies of the survey can be scanned and emailed directly to jjenrich@barnescounty.us or mailed to 230 4th St. NW, Room 300, Valley City, ND 58072.

Question Title

1. In what city/census-designated place/unincorporated community/township do you reside? (Required.)

City of Dazey

City of Fingal

City of Kathryn

City of Leal

City of Litchville

City of Nome

City of Oriska

City of Pillsbury

City of Rogers

City of Sanborn

City of Sibley

City of Tower City (part)

City of Valley City

City of Wimbledon

Rural Barnes County (please list specific area in the comment box provided)

Non-resident/commuter

Other (please specify)

Question Title

2. Select the top 3 hazards/threats of concern to you and your household.

Civil Disturbance (events arising due to political grievances, economic disputes or social discord, terrorism or foreign agitators)

Criminal Attack (acts of violence against the adversary, or attack by physical force on a person fo which the attacker is liable to criminal prosecution)

Cyberattack (an attack or hijack of information technology infrastructure critical to the functions controlled by computer networks such as: operating, financial, communications, and trade systems)

Dam Failure (sudden, rapid, and uncontrolled release of impounded water that will create a potential significant downstream hazard)

Drought (deficiency in precipitation over an extended period of time)

Fire - Structure (fires that occur in developed areas impacting buildings and structures that are unplanned and out of control)

Fire - Wildland (unplanned, unwanted wildland fire, including unauthorized human-caused fires, escaped planned or prescribed wildland fires, and any other wildland fire in which the objective is to put the fire out)

Flood (flash flooding, overland flooding (areal), river flooding)

Geologic Hazards (abandoned mine lands, earthquake, environmental minerals (arsenic, erionite, uranium), environmental minreals (radon), expansive/unstable soils, landslides, meteorite falls, volcanic hazards)

Hazardous Material Release (any substance in any quantity or form that may pose an unreasonable risk to the safety, health, environment, and property of citizens)

Infectious Disease & Pest Infestations (animals, people, plants)

Severe Summer Weather (downbursts, extreme heat, hail, high wind, lightning, thunderstorms, tornadoes, etc.)

Severe Winter Weather (blizzards, extreme cold/wind chill, heavy snow, ice storms, recycled snow, snow squalls, etc.)

Space Weather (activity on the surface of the sun, electromagnetic pulse)

Terrorist or Nation/State Attack (armed assault, biological, chemical, explosive, food/food production, nuclear, radiological, and/or vehicular attacks)

Transportation Incident (any small or large-scale aircraft, automobile, bicycle, boat, pedestrian, railroad, or truck/vehicle accident/incident that involves injuries or mass casualties)

Other (please specify)

Question Title

3. How much monetary damage has your household experienced due to the natural hazards and/or man-made threats in the last five (5) years listed in question 2?

None

$1 to $999

$1,000 to $9,999

$10,000 to $24,999

$25,000 to $49,999

$50,000 to $99,999

$100,000+

Other (please specify)

Question Title

4. Of the listed natural hazards and man-made threats selected in Question 2, do you have documentation of any incident(s) and/or related impacts? (i.e. photos, written correspondence, insurance claims, receipt(s) of repair costs, etc.)

Yes

Question Title

5. If you answered yes to Question 4, would you be willing to share documentation with local emergency management to enhance planning and grant application efforts?

Yes (email information to jjenrich@barnescounty.us)

No (please retain your records in case you change you mind in the future)

Other (please specify)

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6. Is your home located in a floodplain?

Yes

Don't Know

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7. Do you have flood insurance?

Yes

Don't Know

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8. If you answered no to flood insurance, please explain why.

Too expensive

Not necessary due to absence of flooding

Not necessary because home is elevated or otherwise protected

Never considered it

Home not located in a floodplain

Other (please specify)

Question Title

9. Have you or your community experienced a prolonged power outage of several days or more? If yes, please identify the specific date and/or time of the occurrence, and any correlating documentation.

Yes

Don't know

If yes, please identify the specific date and/or time of the occurrence.

Question Title

10. What methods are in place to protect yourself/your household from a cyberattack?

Firewall, antivirus, complex passwords

Antivirus and complex passwords

No firewall, no antivirus, simple passwords, no backing up of data

Don't Know

Other (please specify)

Question Title

11. Do you back up your computer data (files, photos, music, software, etc.)?

Yes, external hard drive/thumb drive/memory stick

Yes, online/cloud-based

Yes, combination of external hard drive and online-cloud/based

No, I do not back up my data

Don't Know

Other (please specify)

Question Title

12. Have you taken actions/steps to improve the resiliency (ability to protect and readily recover) of your home/neighborhood or community from natural hazards and man-made threats?

(i.e., improved drainage or upgraded culverts, generator, structural improvements, retrofitting of existing infrastructure, sheltering, etc.)

Yes

Don't Know

If yes, please specify.

Question Title

13. Would you like information on protecting your household against natural hazards and man-made threats? Answering 'yes, interested' will not automatically sign you up to receive information.

Yes, interested

No, not interested

Question Title

14. Would you like information on protecting your household against cyberattacks? Answering 'yes, interested' will not automatically sign you up to receive information.

Yes, interested

No, not interested

Question Title

15. Would you like to receive information on how to shelter in place - which is defined as the use of a structure to temporarily separate individuals from a hazard or threat. Answering 'yes, interested' will not automatically sign you up to receive information.

Yes, interested

No, not interested

Question Title

16. What is your preferred method for receiving public information? Check all that apply.

Everbridge (Mass Notification System)

Flyer/Mailer

Landline Phone

Newspaper

Radio

Smartphone/app

Social Media

Streaming Services

Tablet

Television

Utility/Tax Statement Insert

Website

Written Correspondence

Question Title

17. Do you have a 72-hour emergency kit? A 72-hour emergency kit comprises water, food, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, a first aid kit, a whistle, a dust mask, tools, maps, cell phones, toiletries, etc.

Yes

Question Title

18. If you have an emergency kit, does it include a 7-day supply of your personal/individual medicinal needs?

Yes

Question Title

19. Are there any roadways in Barnes County impacted by flooding, severe summer weather, or severe winter weather? (i.e., blocked roads, overland flooding, fallen tree branches, snow drifts, etc.?)

If yes, please specify the roadway and/or general location below.

Yes

If yes, please specify roadway, location and general description of concern.

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20. Does your community have a designated storm shelter?

Yes

Don't Know

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21. If you answered no to the previous question, what structure(s) in your community can serve as a designated storm shelter?

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22. If no existing structures are compatible for use as a shelter, is there an ideal location for the construction of a new or pre-fabricated storm shelter in your community? (i.e. city park, near mobile homes, recreation areas, etc.)

Yes

If yes (please specify)

Question Title

23. Does anyone in your household have special needs or impaired mobility? (i.e., need continuous electric power for medical equipment and/or medicinal care, requires special evacuation assistance, etc.)

Yes

If yes, please specify the special need or impaired mobility and your community/township of residence.

Question Title

24. Does your household lack reliable transportation for essential services or medical needs?

Yes

If yes, please indicate your specific need for transportation (i.e. medical, familial, employment, school, food, etc.?), and identify your current method.

Question Title

25. In the past year, have you or any family members you live with been unable to get any of the following when it was really needed? Check all that apply.

Food

Utilities

Phone

Clothing

Childcare

Other

Medicine or any health care (Medical, Dental, Mental Health, Vision)

No inability to report

I choose not to answer

Other (please specify)

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26. Does your household speak a primary language other than English?

Afrikaans

French

Spanish

Tagalog/Filipino

Ukrainian

If other, please identify here.

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27. Does your home use Firewise concepts?

Firewise is a set of action steps taken now and throughout the year to prepare and help reduce the risk of your home and property becoming fuel for a wildfire - i.e. cleaning your property of debris, maintaining your landscaping, etc.

Yes

If yes, please describe the Firewise steps you take.

Question Title

28. Would you like to receive information on Firewise? Answering 'yes, interested' will not automatically sign you up to receive information.

Yes, interseted

No, not interested

If yes, please give us your name and preferred method of contact.

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29. Would you be interested in becoming a volunteer for local ambulance or fire?

Yes, interested

No, not interested

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30. If you answered no to the previous question, what would help you reconsider? Check all that apply.

Annual Stipend

Childcare Assistance

Employer Compensation Program (eliminate loss of vacation time due to response calls)

Free Registration for Private Vehicles

Free Training - Paramedic, Fire I or II, etc.

Gift Cards for Fuel Reimbursement

Healthcare Benefits

Hourly Compensation

Mentorship (either training or employment)

Retirement Benefits

Tuition Reimbursement

Other (please specify)

Question Title

31. Mitigation capabilities reduce the risk of natural hazards and man-made threats.

Capabilities fall into one of the following four broad categories described below.

Please rank the importance of improving or expanding each category for your community.

	Very Important	Important	Moderately Important	Slightly Important	Unimportant
Administrative and Technical: jurisdictional staff and their skills to implement mitigation actions/projects.	Administrative and Technical: jurisdictional staff and their skills to implement mitigation actions/projects. Very Important	Administrative and Technical: jurisdictional staff and their skills to implement mitigation actions/projects. Important	Administrative and Technical: jurisdictional staff and their skills to implement mitigation actions/projects. Moderately Important	Administrative and Technical: jurisdictional staff and their skills to implement mitigation actions/projects. Slightly Important	Administrative and Technical: jurisdictional staff and their skills to implement mitigation actions/projects. Unimportant
Education and Outreach: education and outreach programs to educate the public on hazards and threats.	Education and Outreach: education and outreach programs to educate the public on hazards and threats. Very Important	Education and Outreach: education and outreach programs to educate the public on hazards and threats. Important	Education and Outreach: education and outreach programs to educate the public on hazards and threats. Moderately Important	Education and Outreach: education and outreach programs to educate the public on hazards and threats. Slightly Important	Education and Outreach: education and outreach programs to educate the public on hazards and threats. Unimportant
Financial: access to or eligibility to allocate resources for funding of mitigation projects.	Financial: access to or eligibility to allocate resources for funding of mitigation projects. Very Important	Financial: access to or eligibility to allocate resources for funding of mitigation projects. Important	Financial: access to or eligibility to allocate resources for funding of mitigation projects. Moderately Important	Financial: access to or eligibility to allocate resources for funding of mitigation projects. Slightly Important	Financial: access to or eligibility to allocate resources for funding of mitigation projects. Unimportant
Planning and Regulatory: jurisdictional plans, policies, codes, and ordinances in place to reduce and/or eliminate the impacts of hazards and/or threats.	Planning and Regulatory: jurisdictional plans, policies, codes, and ordinances in place to reduce and/or eliminate the impacts of hazards and/or threats. Very Important	Planning and Regulatory: jurisdictional plans, policies, codes, and ordinances in place to reduce and/or eliminate the impacts of hazards and/or threats. Important	Planning and Regulatory: jurisdictional plans, policies, codes, and ordinances in place to reduce and/or eliminate the impacts of hazards and/or threats. Moderately Important	Planning and Regulatory: jurisdictional plans, policies, codes, and ordinances in place to reduce and/or eliminate the impacts of hazards and/or threats. Slightly Important	Planning and Regulatory: jurisdictional plans, policies, codes, and ordinances in place to reduce and/or eliminate the impacts of hazards and/or threats. Unimportant

Please tell us any specific ideas you may have. The county would like to know how residents feel mitigation is best achieved through the capability categories listed above.

Question Title

32. In your opinion, what other steps can your local government take to reduce or eliminate losses to human life and property from natural hazards and manmade threats?

All responses will be included in the plan.

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33. How long have you resided in your current community?

Less than 1 year

1 to 5 years

6 to 10 years

11 to 15 years

16+ years

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34. What is your age?

Under 18

18 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 to 74

75 to 84

85+

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35. What is your gender?

Male

Female

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36. What type of housing do you occupy?

Apartment

Institutional - Assisted Living, Care Center, Skilled Nursing, etc.

Institutional - Corrections

Manufactured Home

Mobile/Trailer Home

Multi-Family Home

Recreational Vehicle

Single-Family Home

Townhome

I do not have housing

Other (please specify)

Question Title

37. Do you own or rent your housing?

Own

Rent

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* 1. In what city/census-designated place/unincorporated community/township do you reside? (Required.)

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* 2. Select the top 3 hazards/threats of concern to you and your household.

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* 3. How much monetary damage has your household experienced due to the natural hazards and/or man-made threats in the last five (5) years listed in question 2?

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* 4. Of the listed natural hazards and man-made threats selected in Question 2, do you have documentation of any incident(s) and/or related impacts? (i.e. photos, written correspondence, insurance claims, receipt(s) of repair costs, etc.)

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* 5. If you answered yes to Question 4, would you be willing to share documentation with local emergency management to enhance planning and grant application efforts?

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* 6. Is your home located in a floodplain?

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* 7. Do you have flood insurance?

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* 8. If you answered no to flood insurance, please explain why.

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* 9. Have you or your community experienced a prolonged power outage of several days or more? If yes, please identify the specific date and/or time of the occurrence, and any correlating documentation.

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* 10. What methods are in place to protect yourself/your household from a cyberattack?

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* 11. Do you back up your computer data (files, photos, music, software, etc.)?

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* 13. Would you like information on protecting your household against natural hazards and man-made threats? Answering 'yes, interested' will not automatically sign you up to receive information.

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* 14. Would you like information on protecting your household against cyberattacks? Answering 'yes, interested' will not automatically sign you up to receive information.

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* 15. Would you like to receive information on how to shelter in place - which is defined as the use of a structure to temporarily separate individuals from a hazard or threat. Answering 'yes, interested' will not automatically sign you up to receive information.

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* 16. What is your preferred method for receiving public information? Check all that apply.

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* 17. Do you have a 72-hour emergency kit? A 72-hour emergency kit comprises water, food, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, a first aid kit, a whistle, a dust mask, tools, maps, cell phones, toiletries, etc.

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* 18. If you have an emergency kit, does it include a 7-day supply of your personal/individual medicinal needs?

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* 19. Are there any roadways in Barnes County impacted by flooding, severe summer weather, or severe winter weather? (i.e., blocked roads, overland flooding, fallen tree branches, snow drifts, etc.?) If yes, please specify the roadway and/or general location below.

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* 20. Does your community have a designated storm shelter?

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* 21. If you answered no to the previous question, what structure(s) in your community can serve as a designated storm shelter?

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* 22. If no existing structures are compatible for use as a shelter, is there an ideal location for the construction of a new or pre-fabricated storm shelter in your community? (i.e. city park, near mobile homes, recreation areas, etc.)

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* 23. Does anyone in your household have special needs or impaired mobility? (i.e., need continuous electric power for medical equipment and/or medicinal care, requires special evacuation assistance, etc.)

Question Title

* 24. Does your household lack reliable transportation for essential services or medical needs?

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* 25. In the past year, have you or any family members you live with been unable to get any of the following when it was really needed? Check all that apply.

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* 26. Does your household speak a primary language other than English?

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* 27. Does your home use Firewise concepts?Firewise is a set of action steps taken now and throughout the year to prepare and help reduce the risk of your home and property becoming fuel for a wildfire - i.e. cleaning your property of debris, maintaining your landscaping, etc.

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* 28. Would you like to receive information on Firewise? Answering 'yes, interested' will not automatically sign you up to receive information.

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* 29. Would you be interested in becoming a volunteer for local ambulance or fire?

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* 30. If you answered no to the previous question, what would help you reconsider? Check all that apply.

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* 31. Mitigation capabilities reduce the risk of natural hazards and man-made threats. Capabilities fall into one of the following four broad categories described below. Please rank the importance of improving or expanding each category for your community.

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* 32. In your opinion, what other steps can your local government take to reduce or eliminate losses to human life and property from natural hazards and manmade threats? All responses will be included in the plan.

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* 33. How long have you resided in your current community?

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* 34. What is your age?

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* 35. What is your gender?

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* 36. What type of housing do you occupy?

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* 37. Do you own or rent your housing?

1. In what city/census-designated place/unincorporated community/township do you reside? (Required.)

2. Select the top 3 hazards/threats of concern to you and your household.

3. How much monetary damage has your household experienced due to the natural hazards and/or man-made threats in the last five (5) years listed in question 2?

4. Of the listed natural hazards and man-made threats selected in Question 2, do you have documentation of any incident(s) and/or related impacts? (i.e. photos, written correspondence, insurance claims, receipt(s) of repair costs, etc.)

5. If you answered yes to Question 4, would you be willing to share documentation with local emergency management to enhance planning and grant application efforts?

6. Is your home located in a floodplain?

7. Do you have flood insurance?

8. If you answered no to flood insurance, please explain why.

9. Have you or your community experienced a prolonged power outage of several days or more? If yes, please identify the specific date and/or time of the occurrence, and any correlating documentation.

10. What methods are in place to protect yourself/your household from a cyberattack?

11. Do you back up your computer data (files, photos, music, software, etc.)?

13. Would you like information on protecting your household against natural hazards and man-made threats? Answering 'yes, interested' will not automatically sign you up to receive information.

14. Would you like information on protecting your household against cyberattacks? Answering 'yes, interested' will not automatically sign you up to receive information.

15. Would you like to receive information on how to shelter in place - which is defined as the use of a structure to temporarily separate individuals from a hazard or threat. Answering 'yes, interested' will not automatically sign you up to receive information.

16. What is your preferred method for receiving public information? Check all that apply.

17. Do you have a 72-hour emergency kit? A 72-hour emergency kit comprises water, food, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, a first aid kit, a whistle, a dust mask, tools, maps, cell phones, toiletries, etc.

18. If you have an emergency kit, does it include a 7-day supply of your personal/individual medicinal needs?

19. Are there any roadways in Barnes County impacted by flooding, severe summer weather, or severe winter weather? (i.e., blocked roads, overland flooding, fallen tree branches, snow drifts, etc.?)

If yes, please specify the roadway and/or general location below.

20. Does your community have a designated storm shelter?

21. If you answered no to the previous question, what structure(s) in your community can serve as a designated storm shelter?

22. If no existing structures are compatible for use as a shelter, is there an ideal location for the construction of a new or pre-fabricated storm shelter in your community? (i.e. city park, near mobile homes, recreation areas, etc.)

23. Does anyone in your household have special needs or impaired mobility? (i.e., need continuous electric power for medical equipment and/or medicinal care, requires special evacuation assistance, etc.)

24. Does your household lack reliable transportation for essential services or medical needs?

25. In the past year, have you or any family members you live with been unable to get any of the following when it was really needed? Check all that apply.

26. Does your household speak a primary language other than English?

27. Does your home use Firewise concepts?

Firewise is a set of action steps taken now and throughout the year to prepare and help reduce the risk of your home and property becoming fuel for a wildfire - i.e. cleaning your property of debris, maintaining your landscaping, etc.

28. Would you like to receive information on Firewise? Answering 'yes, interested' will not automatically sign you up to receive information.

29. Would you be interested in becoming a volunteer for local ambulance or fire?

30. If you answered no to the previous question, what would help you reconsider? Check all that apply.

31. Mitigation capabilities reduce the risk of natural hazards and man-made threats.

Capabilities fall into one of the following four broad categories described below.

Please rank the importance of improving or expanding each category for your community.

32. In your opinion, what other steps can your local government take to reduce or eliminate losses to human life and property from natural hazards and manmade threats?

All responses will be included in the plan.

33. How long have you resided in your current community?

34. What is your age?

35. What is your gender?

36. What type of housing do you occupy?

37. Do you own or rent your housing?