News Releases for September 2002
September 11, 2002
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Hoeven: Presidential Disaster Declaration To Bring Funding To Five Counties And Reservation
BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor John Hoeven today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has made funding available to five North Dakota counties and one Indian reservation to help them recover from the effects of a series of storms. The severe weather resulted in flooding in northeastern North Dakota and central portions of the state. The move comes after Hoeven requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration from President George W. Bush.
Counties and tribal lands included in the disaster designation are Grand Forks, Pembina, Traill, Walsh, Stutsman and the Three Affiliated Tribes. The declaration covers damage to public infrastructure. The declaration will also provide grants to reduce or eliminate the risk of future damages through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
“Ensuring that vital community services are restored is part of our continuing commitment to help these counties and Indian reservation achieve a lasting recovery,” Hoeven said. “The process of restoring public infrastructure is ongoing.”
The assistance was authorized under a major disaster declaration requested by Hoeven and issued by President Bush following a review of the state’s request for assistance. Local governments in all of the declared counties and reservation may be eligible for public assistance for storm and flood damages from June 8 through August 11, 2002. Hoeven is working with FEMA to extend the declaration to include recent damages incurred in Walsh County through August 28.
Recent heavy rains in the Red River Valley caused damage to individual homes and businesses. Based on the types of damage reported, there is no Federal/State Individual Assistance program authorized. County and city officials are completing damage assessments to determine if there is potential for any assistance to recover individual losses through other sources. For example, volunteer agencies are helping with essential items, such as repairing and replacing water heaters, and assisting homeowners with cleanup activities.
Under the declaration, the state and affected local governments in the five counties and one Indian reservation are eligible to apply for federal funding to pay 75 percent of the approved repair costs. This includes debris removal, emergency protective measures related to the disaster, and repairing or replacing damaged public infrastructure such as roads, bridges and utilities.
“The summer of 2002 will be remembered as one of the most diverse weather years on record for North Dakota,” Hoeven said. “It is essential that we not only rebuild our towns and cities, but that we take steps to eliminate or prevent weather-related damages in the future.”
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