News Releases for April 2004
April 2, 2004
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Hoeven Announces Federal Snow Emergency Declaration For Six Northwest Counties And One Reservation
Further Evaluation Pending For Five Counties
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today received notification that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has designated six North Dakota counties and one Indian reservation as meeting federal requirements to obtain federal funds for emergency snow removal assistance.
The jurisdictions included in the snow emergency declaration include Dunn, McHenry, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer and Ward counties, as well as the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The declaration will provide relief from economic and environmental impacts affecting public health and safety caused by record snowfall and extreme wind conditions for between January 23 and January 27.
"This declaration will help communities that used up their financial resources due to very heavy snowfall, creating a potential danger to life and property," Hoeven said. "At the same time, we must continue to press for help for counties that were also impacted, yet weren't covered by the declaration."
Hoeven's original request included Burke, Divide, Mountrail, Renville and Williams counties, which were not included in today's action. Hoeven said he spoke today with David Maurstad, FEMA Region 8 director, and at his request the director is sending a FEMA team to North Dakota early next week to further evaluate the five counties excluded from today's declaration.
"Five counties were not included in today's declaration, which is disappointing because they received heavy snowfalls, causing economic hardship and dangerous impacts on public safety," Hoeven said. "Regional Director Maurstad, however, has assured me that the agency will conduct further evaluation of the five counties and make a recommendation to him soon. Assistance may yet be available."
The federal snow emergency declaration is based on damage assessment reports from local officials submitted to FEMA by the North Dakota Division of Emergency Management. The declaration will provide federal funds to reimburse overtime snow removal costs incurred by local governments and state agencies during a continuous 48-hour period. FEMA will cover up to 75 percent of all eligible costs.
Doug Friez, North Dakota Emergency Management Director, indicated that the federal snow emergency assistance package changed in 1999. Guidelines no longer provide extensive help for total seasonal accumulations and re-occurring blockages that result from a combination of heavy snow and high winds. Despite this, Friez said it was prudent to seek federal help because of economic hardships and dangers to public safety caused by the short-term record snowfalls during the 2003-04 winter season.
"Though limited by strict federal guidelines, the declaration will provide essential assistance for some of the strained snow removal budgets within counties that have met federal eligibility criteria," Friez said.
Hoeven requested the declaration in a February 25, 2004, letter to President Bush in which he stated that data compiled by the National Weather Service (NWS), state agencies and county emergency managers, 11 counties, along with the Fort Berthold Tribes Indian Reservation, met the criterion of record daily snowfalls or were contiguous. Snow accumulations, in combination with high winds, created conditions beyond the capacity of continuous state and local emergency responses.
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