BISMARCK - The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved Gov. Jack Dalrymple's request for a federal disaster declaration in the wake of a fall snowstorm that hit southwestern and south central North Dakota.
The declaration paves the way for federal aid to help rural electric cooperatives and local governments in seven counties recover from damages caused by the Oct. 4-5 storm that brought up to 1 ½ feet of snow and strong winds to the region. The storm caused an estimated $8 million in damages to public infrastructure and power utilities.
“The storm created widespread power outages and caused major damage to power systems and other infrastructure,” Dalrymple said Thursday in a statement. “This declaration makes federal funding available to help our rural electric cooperatives and local governments cover the significant costs associated with restoring services.”
The storm downed about 2,000 power poles and transmission lines, damaged roads and other infrastructure and led to cattle and crop losses. More than 9,800 electricity customers lost power, some for as long as two weeks.
FEMA approved Dalrymple's request for federal disaster assistance for Adams, Bowman, Grant, Hettinger, Morton, Sioux and Slope counties.
