News Releases for January 2006
January 05, 2006
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Hoeven Announces Presidential Disaster Declaration In Four Counties Impacted By Winter Storm
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today announced that President Bush has approved his request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for impacts resulting from the November 27-30 snow storm that caused power outages, damaged electrical power infrastructure and isolated rural residents and southeastern communities.
Counties included in the emergency declaration are Cass, Ransom, Richland and Sargent.
"This declaration will help communities affected by the November storm restore vital resources, enabling them to continue to respond to the needs of their citizens," Hoeven said. "It will also help our rural electric cooperatives recover some of the losses they incurred due to the severe weather."
The disaster declaration will open access for the four counties to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Program and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). All jurisdictions in North Dakota, even tribal and local governments outside the four declared counties are eligible to apply for assistance under the HMGP.
The declaration follows Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) conducted in partnership with local, state and federal officials to assess damages to public, private and governmental properties that indicated losses of $1.8 million.
"The burden of costs associated with efforts taken to reduce hardships exceeded the ability of local communities to provide emergency assistance on a continuing basis," said Greg Wilz, N.D. Division of Homeland Security Director. "The state will continue to work closely with federal and local officials to ensure recovery from damages sustained during this severe storm."
This represents the third request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration within the state in a one-year period. Hoeven requested and received approval for two declarations earlier in 2005, one for severe summer weather in June and the second for the early snowstorm of October 4-6.
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