Peace Garden News

Representatives from the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) will virtually conduct an informational briefing Thursday, July 28, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST, detailing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Program and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). This briefing is offered to counties, cities, townships and tribes included in the 2022 spring storms and flooding Presidential Disaster Declaration. 

The disaster declaration, which was submitted by Gov. Doug Burgum on June 23, was for severe spring storms and subsequent flooding from April 22 to May 25 that broke precipitation records, knocked out power to more than 10,000 residents and caused more than $57 million in damage across the state. The declaration covers 40 counties: Adams, Barnes, Billings, Bottineau, Burke, Cavalier, Dickey, Divide, Dunn, Foster, Golden Valley, Grand Forks, Grant, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McHenry, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mountrail, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Ramsey, Ransom, Renville, Richland, Rolette, Sargent, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Traill, Walsh, Ward, Wells and Williams.

Through the PA Program, FEMA can reimburse local governments, states, tribes and certain private non-profits for up to 75 percent of their eligible costs related to restoring public infrastructure to pre-disaster conditions, while the HMGP provides funds for mitigation projects that will eliminate future risk to lives and property from natural hazards. According to PEW Charitable Trusts, an average of $6.54 is saved for every $1 spent on mitigation activities in North Dakota. Using that formula, it is estimated NDDES hazard mitigation projects have prevented more than $1 billion in disaster damages. 

This week’s briefing is intended for those public officials who will be directly responsible for managing recovery operations and receiving and accounting for federal and state funds. Attendees may include representatives from jurisdictional governments, such as: counties, townships, cities, tribes and eligible private non-profits. Auditors, public works directors, road supervisors and emergency managers are especially encouraged to attend. 

As part of the PA Program, eligible applicants are required to submit a Request for Public Assistance (RPA), which identifies their jurisdiction/organization as an official applicant. All RPAs must be submitted through the FEMA Grants Portal website located online at https://grantee.fema.gov, no later than Aug. 12, 2022. 

The informational briefing also will be recorded and made available for applicants who are unable to attend or would like to view the briefing again. To request a video link or to ask questions pertaining to the PA and HMGP Programs, please contact Justin Messner, NDDES Disaster Recovery Chief, at 701-328-8107. 

NDDES has coordinated the distribution of more than $2.4 billion in disaster recovery assistance to local, tribal, and state entities since 1993. 

The briefing will be virtually presented via Microsoft Teams. Those wishing to listen to the briefing can call in at 701-328-0950 and use the conference ID No. 273 696 943#.

Original source can be found here.