Hoeven seeks federal disaster for costs associated with winter weather

Gov. John Hoeven today requested that President Barack Obama declare a federal disaster for 25 North Dakota counties to help municipalities, a tribal jurisdiction and rural electric cooperatives recover costs associated with last month’s severe winter weather. The request is a result of a severe winter storm that produced freezing rain, ice, heavy snow accumulations and high winds in excess of 50 miles per hour causing blizzard conditions throughout the state beginning Jan. 20 and ending Jan. 25.

Hoeven specifically requested emergency assistance for the following qualifying jurisdictions: Adams, Barnes, Billings, Bowman, Burke, Dickey, Dunn, Emmons, Golden Valley, Grant, Hettinger, Logan, McKenzie, McIntosh, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Oliver, Ransom, Renville, Sioux, Slope, Stark, Steele and Walsh counties, and the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.

On Jan. 27, Hoeven requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency begin conducting Preliminary Damage Assessments in the state to document losses and costs that resulted from January’s storm, paving the way for a Presidential Disaster Declaration. Preliminary assessments have indicated that 25 counties and the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation will likely qualify for FEMA assistance based on costs incurred during the storm. Early damage estimates indicate more than $20 million in eligible losses for local and county governments, along with a number of the state’s rural electric cooperatives.

Hoeven issued a statewide winter storm disaster declaration on Jan. 27, based on impacts to North Dakotans who were without heat, electricity, water or telephone service, as well as initial assessments of damages, particularly to the state’s electrical, telephone and communications providers. State, local and tribal agencies worked closely to respond to the severe weather and to ensure the safety of citizens. On the state level, agencies have supported local and tribal operations with personnel, equipment and technical assistance.

If approved, the Presidential Disaster Declaration will cover 75 percent of the eligible costs resulting from the storm, with the state covering 10 percent of those costs.

Tags: daily updates, north dakota, federal disaster, disaster declaration, news, snow, storm, weather, ice