North Dakota
Search for missing Spirit Lake woman prompts questions on Feather Alert protocol
MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) – The recent disappearance of a woman from the Spirit Lake Reservation is sparking questions about the newest safety alerts in North Dakota.
At one point or another, we’ve heard our phones go off with a missing person alert.
That notification comes with a lot of behind-the-scenes criteria that need to be met.
More than 1,300 people went missing in North Dakota last year alone.
The state’s public alert system helps spread the word to locate the missing.
“When someone’s abducted against their own will or have physical or mental impairments that make them not understand what’s going on, and abducted children also,” said Jenna Clawson Huibregtse.
Those are just a few of the key details examined when determining which alert to use.
Jenna Clawson Huibregtse with the state patrol said the system has five alert types: Amber, Silver, Blue, Feather, and Missing Endangered.
The two newest ones are Feather Alert and Missing Endangered.
Both are for endangered or abducted adults, but the Feather Alert applies specifically to Indigenous adults.
“When our people go missing, we need to have some sort of alert to ensure that we are able to act swiftly to try and get a positive resolve,” said Vicki Alberts.
Alberts with Spirit Lake public relations said the alert plays a big part for tribes.
This past weekend, the state issued a Feather Alert for 20-year-old Danica White, but Alberts said some thought the alert didn’t work properly.
“Only certain people received an alert on their phone, via text, and that no sound was associated with that alert,” said Alberts.
Clawson Huibregtse said the system worked as it should.
“For abductions, we send out that wireless emergency alert, that’s what goes across the phones, and if there’s not an abduction, we still do an alert, but we utilize other communication platforms,” said Huibregtse.
She points out why not all alerts include that loud notification we all know.
“Alerts fatigue thing is huge, and the effectiveness rate of an alert has to be high for the system to work,” said Huibregtse.
While notifications may differ depending on circumstances, Huibregtse said they always focus on alerting the public and searching for the person.
She said other states send out notifications for all missing people and experience a success rate of 11-35% compared to North Dakota’s rate of nearly 100%.
Copyright 2025 KFYR. All rights reserved.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Roads in northwest North Dakota are reporting extremely low visibility due to blowing dust and dirt.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol shared photos of an intense dust storm that led to a crash in Williams County on Highway 85 at 1:30 p.m.
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Photo courtesy of the North Dakota Highway Patrol -
Photo courtesy of the North Dakota Highway Patrol
The NDHP is advising the public to stay home if possible, and if you must travel, slow down, turn on your headlights, increase following distance, and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
KELOLAND News also received photos from our viewers of dust storms in South Dakota.
WILLIAMS COUNTY, N.D. (Valley News Live) – The North Dakota Highway Patrol is urging drivers in northwest North Dakota to stay off the roads Thursday afternoon as blowing dirt creates near-zero visibility in some areas.
As of 1:30 p.m. Thursday, troopers were reporting low to no visibility in parts of the region, including along Highway 85 in Williams County near mile marker 212, where a crash occurred. The Highway Patrol shared a photo from the crash scene showing extremely reduced visibility.
Officials are asking people to stay home if possible. Those who must travel are urged to slow down, turn on their headlights, leave extra space between vehicles and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON — The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services has been recognized for its wildfire prevention efforts with a national Bronze Smokey Bear Award.
“These awardees demonstrate what fire prevention looks like in action,” said U.S. Forest Service Deputy Chief Sarah Fisher. “Their efforts protect lives, support firefighters and make a real difference in communities across the country.”
May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and with North Dakota experiencing another active spring wildfire season, each fire prevented is one that local responders don’t have to put out, underscoring the importance of each individual’s responsibility to work and recreate safely outdoors. The award to the N.D. Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) recognizes its efforts in communicating just that.
The communications team is led by Strategic Communications Chief Alison Vetter and is supported by Autonomous Systems and Communications Specialist Clint Fleckenstein.
According to information from the Forest Service, the team’s creative products are visually appealing, engaging and effective. The “Learn Before You Burn” tagline urges North Dakotans to visit the interactive N.D. Fire Declarations and Burn Restrictions map to learn their local restrictions, fire danger and red flag warnings before burning or recreating outdoors. Vetter and Fleckenstein consistently take initiative to address fire prevention issues proactively and go above and beyond to become the best possible storytellers of wildfire prevention messaging.
Alison Vetter
Their statewide efforts identify unique and effective avenues to communicate these important public safety topics, addressing top human-caused fire causes like open burning and equipment use through reels, interviews, Gas Station TV, visits with local students, and GoodHealthTV kiosks found in local health units, schools and other public buildings.
During the historic October 2024 wildfires, NDDES mobilized the Joint Information Center, responding to the elevated need for education, prevention and response to determine messaging needs in real time. This included topics like publicizing daily fire danger, sharing resources for affected landowners, advocating for defensible space and safety tips, and messaging ways to minimize fire risk when harvesting, hunting, or enjoying the outdoors. Alison and her team worked over the winter of 2024-2025 to identify prevention efforts and causes, and crafted effective communications strategies to reduce wildfire occurrence, which proved necessary into an active spring 2025 fire season as well. After the devastation of the October 2024 wildfires, they created a documentary to highlight the value and appreciation for those who responded to the call and showcase the unique way North Dakota communities show up for one another in crisis.
The 2026 Smokey Bear Awards will be presented at the National Association of State Foresters’ annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, in September.
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