Trump approves half of Montana's disaster declaration request

Nearly two-and-a-half months after Gov. Steve Bullock requested the president declare a disaster so Montana counties could get help dealing with massive flooding, President Donald Trump has approved part of the request.

Bullock Press Secretary Marissa Perry said this morning that the governor is pleased that FEMA has approved disaster relief for some counties,.

“This is by no means the state’s full request and there is work to be done,” Perry said. “Gov. Bullock will continue fighting until all Montana counties in need of relief get the support they deserve.”

After massive flooding swept the state in the spring, including Hill Liberty and Blaine counties, Bullock requested June 18 that the president declare a disaster in 12 counties.

The declaration Trump issued Thursday included six counties, with Pondera, Toole and Valley declared disaster regions as well as Blaine, Hill and Liberty.

The request to declare Carbon, Golden Valley, Missoula, Musselshell, Petroleum and Pondera counties federal disaster areas were not approved.

The declaration provides federal funding to help pay for a portion of the cost of emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by flooding.

The declaration also makes federal funding available to help pay for projects to mitigate the damage in future disasters.

A release from the White House said James R. Stephenson has been named as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Stephenson said additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

This is the fourth disaster declared from flooding in the region in less than 10 years.

Disasters were declared for this area due to spring flooding in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

In this region, the flooding was primarily due to the extremely deep levels of snow left by the area’s near-record winter, with no place for the water to go as the snow melted.

Montana’s Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Rep. Greg Gianforte all had sent letters to FEMA urging it to approve the request.

“This is great news. I’m pleased the administration responded to our request,” Daines said in a release announcing the declaration. “This year’s flooding devastated communities and infrastructure across our state. This funding will help expedite cleanup and recovery efforts and will help restore the way of life for some of Montana’s most impacted communities.”

“The Trump administration’s response to our request will provide our communities with resources they need to recover and rebuild from this year’s flooding,” Gianforte, who is facing a challenge in his bid for re-election by Democrat Kathleen Williams of Bozeman and Libertarian Elinor Swanson from Billings, said in the release. “The administration’s decision is welcome news to our impacted communities.”

Tester, who is facing a challenge in his bid for re-election from Republican Montana Auditor Matt Rosendale and Libertarian Rick Breckenridge of Dayton, also praised the declaration.

“Counties across the Hi-Line will be dealing with the impacts of this year’s near-record flooding for a long time,” Tester said today. “This disaster declaration will deliver funding to help repair the damage caused by the floods, and rebuild critical infrastructure to prevent future flooding from destroying property and putting people at risk. I will continue to push for more resources to ensure Havre and the surrounding communities have what they need to fully recover and be ready for next year’s spring run-off.”