Peace Garden News

Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, along with Congressman Kelly Armstrong, have requested President Joe Biden to approve a major disaster declaration following severe weather events in North Dakota. The request is based on the straight-line winds and historic wildfires that took place from October 5 to October 6. Approval of this declaration would provide federal resources for recovery and disaster mitigation efforts in affected areas such as McKenzie and Williams counties.

The delegation emphasized the severity of the situation by noting that "nearly 150,000 gallons of water from nearby Lake Sakakawea were used to contain the fires, which burned approximately 120,000 acres of land and resulted in excess of $8 million in damages." They highlighted the significant impact on North Dakota's agricultural community and electrical infrastructure. According to them, "the loss of livestock, structures, equipment, and the destruction of shelterbelts and windbreaks will take years to recover from."

The lawmakers expressed their support for Governor Doug Burgum’s request for federal assistance. They stated: "We support the State’s request and urge you to approve it as soon as possible so the necessary Federal resources can be made available to North Dakotans."