Disaster declarations

Apr 28, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe received word Tuesday afternoon that the Obama administration has granted Arkansas's request for a public-assistance disaster declaration in Ashley, Howard, Miller, Polk and Sevier Counties. The declaration brings with it federal money to cover 75 percent of the damages to public infrastructure in the affected counties, including utility systems, roads and bridges, water-control facilities and debris removal.    » read more »

April 24, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakota Governor John Hoeven today said the White House has approved his request for an expansion of the Presidential Disaster Declaration that was issued on March 24. The expanded declaration would include a range of new assistance programs designed to help the state recover from major, severe flooding this spring.

"As the impacts of recent flooding have expanded, so have the needs of our communities, large and small," Hoeven said. "The kinds of aid available in this expanded declaration can help us to address the costs of recovery in addition to the costs we've incurred in the flood fight."    » read more »

April 24, 2009 -- ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that President Barack Obama approved a Federal Disaster Declaration for 27 counties that the Governor requested aid for following a devastating period of severe weather beginning March 26 and continuing through April 10. Tornadoes, straight-line winds, hail, severe thunderstorms, flash flooding and flooding resulted in widespread residential, commercial and infrastructure damage across South Georgia.

"We have some hard work ahead of us and we appreciate the prompt response by President Obama and Acting FEMA Administrator Nancy Ward," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "It will greatly help the citizens whose lives have been disrupted."    » read more »

April 22, 2009 -- MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Twelve Minnesota counties and a tribal reservation were designated eligible for federal Public Assistance (PA) on Wednesday. That brings the total number of counties to 27 according to officials from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Newly designated include Becker, Beltrami, Chippewa, Clearwater, Douglas, Hubbard, Lac Qui Parle, Lake of the Woods, Pope, Swift, Stevens, and Yellow Medicine counties and the White Earth Tribal Reservation.    » read more »

04/21/2009 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen today requested a Small Business Administration Disaster Declaration for Benton, Dickson, McMinn, Moore, Rutherford and Sequatchie Counties following tornadoes that struck Tennessee on April 10. A SBA Disaster Declaration makes homeowners and businesses affected by the disaster eligible for low-interest loans.

“Help from this federal program is another tool that can be used to assist Tennesseans as they recover and rebuild from this deadly storm,” said Bredesen. “The state is working aggressively with local authorities to ensure that all applicable aid programs are engaged in the recovery process.”    » read more »

Low returns of Sacramento River fall Chinook will curtail commercial salmon fishing; Governor orders state agencies to help struggling coastal fishing communities

April 21, 2009 -- (Salem) - Today, Oregon Governor Kulongoski and California Governor Schwarzenegger requested that U.S. Commerce Secretary Locke declare both a resource disaster under the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act, and a commercial fishery failure under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Securing federal declarations under the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Act will provide important leverage for ocean fishermen seeking vital economic assistance.

“Salmon are a vital component of California and Oregon’s natural resources and provide    » read more »

Apr 14, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe this afternoon sent a letter to President Obama asking him to declare a major disaster in Miller, Polk and Sevier Counties in response to last Thursday's tornadoes. The declaration would provide financial assistance for storm victims, as well as temporary housing, disaster unemployment insurance, crisis counseling, and Small Business Administration disaster loans.

Assessment teams tallied 659 damaged homes in the three counties, including 157 homes destroyed. Another 140 homes suffered major damage.

Teams from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management continue to assess the extent of storm damage to public infrastructure. That work may lead to an additional request for public assistance.

Source: Arkansas Governor

April 9, 2009 -- Saint Paul – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced this afternoon that President Obama has approved a major disaster declaration for Minnesota. The presidential declaration clears the way for federal relief and recovery assistance in Traverse, Wilkin, Clay, Norman, Polk, Marshall and Kittson counties along the Red River in northwestern Minnesota.

Governor Pawlenty requested an expedited major disaster declaration in a letter to the President on March 25.    » read more »

Apr 13, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe today declared Ashley and Miller Counties as state disaster areas due to damage caused by last Thursday's severe storms. Beebe previously declared Howard, Polk and Sevier Counties on Friday.

Teams from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management are continuing their preliminary assessments of storm damage. Governor Beebe expects to request federal aid for individual storm victims within the next few days.

Arkansas 2-1-1 stands ready to help storm victims who need information about disaster services, as well as Arkansans who wish to volunteer or to provide help. The call to 2-1-1 is free.

Source: Arkansas Governor

April 10, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley on Friday asked President Obama to declare a major disaster area for 20 counties in Alabama that received damage from wind, rain and flooding recently.

Between March 30 and April 3, the 20 counties suffered an estimated $26 million in damage to roads, bridges and public buildings, the Governor said. In addition, 572 homes were affected by the severe storms in Covington, Geneva and Houston counties.

In addition to those three counties, Governor Riley’s disaster request covers Baldwin, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Henry, Lamar, Marengo, Perry, Russell, Washington and Wilcox counties.    » read more »

March 26, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter has issued a disaster declaration due to today's blizzard, activating the National Guard to assist with rescue operations and authorizing up to $200,000 in state funds for emergency assistance.

"Our first and foremost concern is the health, safety and welfare of Colorado's citizens," Gov. Ritter said. "We have activated the State Emergency Operations Center to monitor conditions, coordinate the state's resources and respond as needed. We are also asking residents to limit their travel and encourage employers to consider releasing employees in a phased manner to alleviate heavy traffic this afternoon."

Here is the text of Executive Order D 005 09, "Declaring a Disaster Emergency Due to a Severe Blizzard":    » read more »

March 25, 2009 -- Saint Paul – In a letter to President Obama, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty today requested an expedited disaster declaration for the State of Minnesota as a result of severe storms and flooding in Clay, Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Traverse, and Wilkin Counties.

“The outpouring of community support I saw along the Red River this week should make every Minnesotan proud,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Our neighbors are battling the river and the state is working together with local partners to provide every available amount of assistance. Soon we’ll need federal support to help our communities recover from this flooding. I’m hopeful the federal government will grant our request promptly.”    » read more »

March 5, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that President Obama has approved New York State’s appeal and declared nine counties eligible for major federal disaster assistance for the damages that resulted from the December 2008 ice storm. The counties included in the major disaster declaration are Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Washington.    » read more »

March 2, 2009 -- OLYMPIA — Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today expressed her gratitude for President Obama’s decision to declare a federal disaster area for 33 Washington counties due to public facility damage and emergency response costs resulting from the severe winter storm and snowfall between Dec. 12, 2008, and Jan. 5, 2009.    » read more »

02/17/2009 -- NASHVILLE – Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen today announced the federal government has approved his request for disaster assistance for seven counties in West Tennessee for damage from a winter storm that struck on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Bredesen requested the federal disaster aid for Dyer, Henry, Lake, Obion, Montgomery, Stewart and Weakley counties on Feb. 6.

Local governments and public utilities in the seven approved counties are now eligible for Public Assistance Program funds from the federal government. The public assistance designation also covers emergency response and recovery costs incurred by state government.    » read more »