Federal disaster declared for April flooding

President Joe Biden has declared the flooding in this region a disaster, including in Hill and Blaine counties.

A release from the White House reported that Biden ordered federal assistance to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by flooding from April 10 to April 26 this year.

Following heavy snow last winter through March - including a likely new record for December snowfall in Havre - and temperatures staying relatively cold through the start of April, a large upswing in temperatures the second week of April led to rapid melting and runoff, leading to some major flooding.

Roads were covered in water and damaged in a wide area, along with other damage caused.

The local governments have been working to document the damage done by flooding and starting to work to repair the damage, as well as some like Hill County implementing a 2 mill tax to fund emergency repairs.

Gov. Greg Gianforte declared a disaster May 17 due to flooding, opening up assistance from the state and bringing up consideration of the federal disaster declaration.

In his declaration, Gianforte said that Hill, Liberty and Blaine counties and Fort Belknap Indian Reservation along with Meagher, Valley, Daniels and Park counties, the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, and the towns of Glasgow and Nashua also declared emergencies or disasters.

His declaration said those entities reported emergency costs and extensive damage to critical infrastructure to include roads, bridges and culverts.

The disaster declaration authorizes the governor to expend funds from the general fund to meet contingencies and needs arising from these conditions, the declaration said.

Biden's declaration makes funding and assistance available to state, tribal and eligible local local governments and certain nonprofit organizations for the flooding in Blaine and Hill counties as well as Daniels, Park, Roosevelt, Sheridan and Valley counties and the Fort Peck Tribes, the White House release said.

The federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the flooding.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Jon Huss of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been appointed to coordinate federal recovery operations in the affected areas, the release said.

The release said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Watch for more in Friday's edition of Havre Daily News.