The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, Division of Homeland Security, will conduct Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program applicant briefings Thursday and Friday for counties recently designated as eligible for state and federal disaster assistance.
Briefing times and locations are: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Lisbon, Lisbon Eagles Club, 6540 Highway 32 North, and 1:30 p.m. Friday in Bismarck, at the Comfort Inn, Meeting Room F, Door 3, 1030 East Interstate Ave.
Last week, 11 North Dakota counties became eligible for state and federal disaster assistance to help pay for certain damages resulting from the severe storms that hit the state from June 2-18. The counties are: Barnes, Bowman, Dickey, Grant, LaMoure, Logan, McHenry, Ransom, Richland, Sargent and Stutsman.
The disaster assistance is being provided under the Public Assistance program, funded in large part by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The PA program helps governmental entities and certain nonprofit organizations pay for the repair or replacement of eligible disaster-damaged infrastructure and public buildings.
Those who should plan to attend the applicant briefings are: city, tribal and county officials, emergency managers, and representatives from rural electric co-ops, water resource districts, park districts, schools, private non-profit organizations such as educational, emergency, medical, utilities, custodial care, essential governmental services (community centers, homeless shelters, libraries, museums, rehab centers, senior citizens centers, etc.)
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Those who do not have disaster-related damages that occurred during the June 2-18 timeline do not need to attend the applicant briefings.
At the applicant briefings, officials will be required to complete a "Request for Public Assistance" application and designate two primary contacts state personnel will work with on damage sites. Designated contacts must be listed on the application and individuals who will be showing the damage sites should also attend the applicant briefing.
In addition, officials will need to designate an "Applicant Agent" for the entity, who will take care of the paperwork, payments and recordkeeping of recovery projects. The officiating head of the entity will be required to sign the form designating this individual.
Applicant eligibility will be determined before FEMA/ state personnel make a site visit. Eligibility of specific projects will be determined during and/or after team visits to the damage sites.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is open to all North Dakota counties, tribal nations and state agencies. The program provides federal grants to implement long-term measures to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters.
Federal grants cover 75 percent of approved costs for both programs. State, local, tribal governments and certain nonprofit agencies are responsible for the remaining 25 percent share.
