Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and Congressman Kelly Armstrong urged President Biden to approve Governor Doug Burgum's request for a major disaster declaration covering the severe winter storms that took place during the period of November 9-11, 2022. The request was made on behalf of seven counties, including the counties of Dickey, Kidder, Mercer, Nelson, Ransom, Sargent and Wells, and would unlock federal resources to help these communities recover while supporting efforts to mitigate damage from future disasters.
"Snow fell at a rate of three inches per hour, making it impossible for snow removal to keep pace, leaving people stranded in their homes and on roadways. Further, high winds created zero visibility conditions and prevented effective snow removal," wrote the delegation. "These conditions, coupled with layers of ice under the snow, closed down major highways in the State for nearly five days, which in turn reduced access to emergency services and other critical services. Not only did ice impact roadways, but it also contributed to fallen trees and collapsed power lines, which left many North Dakotans without heat and power... Unlocking federal assistance via a presidential disaster declaration is critical for North Dakota's recovery."
Categories: North Dakota, General