BISMARCK (AP) -- Gov. John Hoeven says state officials expect damage from the Good Friday snow storm to exceed the $1 million threshold necessary for a federal disaster declaration.
The heavy snow crippled the electrical infrastructure in southwest and central North Dakota, toppling thousands of power poles, downing hundreds of miles of electrical lines and leaving thousands in the dark.
Hoeven has asked state and federal officials to evaluate the impact of the storm on rural electric cooperatives. The teams are expected to have results by Saturday. Hoeven says he will use the information to ask for a federal disaster declaration by Monday.
A declaration would provide federal aid to help communities, tribes and rural electric cooperatives recover repair costs.
