Federal Disaster Aid Authorized For North Dakota Storms
Release Date: July 22, 2005
Release Number: HQ-05-155
» More Information on North Dakota Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground Saturation
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Federal disaster funds have been made available for North Dakota to help communities recover from the effects of a series of severe storms that that began early last month, the head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today.
Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, said the assistance was authorized by President Bush under a major disaster declaration issued following a review of FEMA’s analysis of the state’s request for federal aid. The declaration covers damage to public property from severe storms, flooding and ground saturation beginning from June 1 – July 7.
After the declaration, Brown designated the following jurisdictions eligible for federal funds to pay the state and affected local governments and certain private non-profit organizations 75 percent of the approved costs for emergency work and the restoration of damaged facilities: the counties of Benson, Bottineau, Cavalier, Dickey, Grand Forks, Griggs, Kidder, LaMoure, McHenry, Nelson, Pierce, Ramsey, Richland, Sargent, Sioux, Stark, Steele, Traill, Walsh and Ward, and the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation and the portion of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation within the state.
In addition, Brown said federal funding will be available to the state on a cost-shared basis for approved projects that reduce future disaster risks. He indicated that additional designations may be made later if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
Anthony Russell of FEMA was named by Brown to coordinate federal recovery operations. Russell said that procedures for requesting assistance will be explained at a series of applicant briefings at locations to be announced shortly in the affected area.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 22-Jul-2005 18:59:43