John Hoeven

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., again pressed federal officials to issue a presidential disaster declaration as the Red River Valley battles rising water and expected major floods.

Hoeven met with Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate on Tuesday to discuss the declaration, and again pressed Fugate and the White House on Wednesday to act quickly to assure residents that federal aid will be available when needed.

“The Red River has already passed flood stage, so it is critical that we have all the necessary federal resources in place to work with local and state responders,” Hoeven said in a written statement.

“We are already in the early stages of a possible flood event, and we need to do all we can to reassure the community that help is on the way,” he wrote.