News Releases for October 2005
October 20, 2005
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Hoeven: Winter Storm Damage Assessments To Begin This Week
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today announced that a formal Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA), conducted in partnership with local, tribal, state and federal officials, will begin this week to assess the damage to affected counties, tribal lands and Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs) resulting from the winter storm that struck central and western North Dakota in early October.
"Several counties, tribal lands and Rural Electric Cooperatives were significantly affected by this month's record-breaking winter storm," Hoeven said. "These damage assessments are the next step in securing the necessary funding to help counties, communities and businesses restore their infrastructure and recover financially from this devastating storm."
Hoeven sent a letter to David Maurstad, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region VIII, requesting the agency's continued support, as well as a team to assist with the assessment. FEMA officials will arrive in North Dakota this week to begin documenting damages in 17 designated counties and one tribal reservation.
"These formal damage assessments are important in providing an overall picture of the storm impacts throughout the state," said Susan Reinertson, director of the North Dakota Division of Homeland Security. "The information collected during these assessments will be a major step in determining whether North Dakota meets the criteria for federal assistance."
On October 6, Hoeven issued a statewide emergency declaration in response to power outages, isolated rural residents and damaged homes and infrastructure resulting from this winter storm.
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