{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8b193e22-be2f-4640-96ed-85f0fb80e6b3", "Heitkamp Discusses Disaster Preparedness Following Recent Tornado & Tours Watford City", "2014-05-29", "2014", "2014-05", "Democrat", "House", "ND", "Heidi Heitkamp", "H001069", "www.heitkamp.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WATFORD CITY, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today toured Watford City and met with Watford City and McKenzie County officials to discusschallenges the city and county face, including the recent tornado that ripped through the area earlier this week.\r\nHeitkamp spoke about the importance of making sure the county and city have up-to-date emergency response plans in place for natural disasters that account for the substantial population increase in the area and the related development of temporary housing sites. By doing so, Heitkamp noted that this would help improve coordination between first responders, hospitals, local agencies, and other organizations.\r\nAfter natural disasters,like thetornado that struck Watford City earlier this week, the most important priority is to make sure everyone is safe, said Heitkamp. Its also critical that Watford City, and all of North Dakotas communities, have emergency response plans in place to meet their current needs and incorporate warning and shelter plans for those living in temporary housing. We want to make sure all residents are notified of disasters in a quick, coordinated way. In addition to touringstorm damage,I also spoke with local officials about the pressing challenges ofcreating affordable housing options and finding ways to improve residents safety.As our population grows  which Watford City knows all too well  we need to do everything possible to ease that transition, and support our families, businesses, and communities.\r\nDuring her tourofWatford City, Heitkamp met with Watford City Mayor Brent Sanford, McKenzie County Job Development Authority Executive Director Gene Veeder, McKenzie County Auditor Linda Svihovec, and McKenzie County Commissioners.\r\nHeitkamptoured crew camps in thearea and spoke about the need to create more affordable housing in the area, given its rapid population growth as a result of increased energy development in western North Dakota.In their meeting, Heitkamp and the Commissioners spoke about challenges the county faces related to heavy storms and flooding and how it affects county roads.They also spoke about ways to improve the safety of residents as the community grows.\r\nBecause of North Dakotas economic boom, its estimated the statewill need 30 percent more housing units by 2025.Heitkamp has been working in the Senate to address North Dakotas housing shortage.In March 2013, Heitkamp traveled across the stateto raise awareness to the states housing crunch. Meetings in six cities provided state, local, and federal officials with opportunities to share their situations and discuss plans to address unique housing issues across the state. She also hostedhousing summits with community leaders inMandanandFargoin August 2013.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8b193e22-be2f-4640-96ed-85f0fb80e6b3"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9949998930096626, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}