Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security News Release
For immediate release, April 15, 2011
Contact: Robert Feeley, (208) 859-6943

Bonner, Boundary and Shoshone Counties Added to State Disaster Declaration, State to Request FEMA Assessment

 

(Boise) Today Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter added Bonner, Boundary and Shoshone counties to the State Disaster Declaration. The three counties join Idaho, Clearwater and Nez Perce counties who have sought state of Idaho assistance due to landslides and flooding. In addition, the Bureau of Homeland Security (BHS) will be requesting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conduct an assessment to determine whether the impacted counties would be eligible for federal disaster assistance.

The three additional counties also saw significant rainfall combined with high amounts of snowmelt which caused damages to roads throughout north and north central Idaho. All impacted counties are currently conducting damage assessments to get a better picture of what it will take to repair the damaged transportation infrastructure.

BHS will be submitting a request to FEMA Region Ten for a Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA). A PDA consists of teams made up of federal, state and local representatives who will inspect damaged areas to assess and confirm damages that were incurred during the flooding event. If the damages meet the threshold for federal disaster assistance, Idaho may request a Presidential Disaster Declaration which would make federal funds available to rebuild the damaged roads and infrastructure.

“I will be visiting the impacted counties next week to get a firsthand look at the damage,” said BHS Director Brigadier General Bill Shawver. “Now our task is to work together with the federal, state and local representatives to restore and repair those areas affected by this disaster.”

 

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Note to reporters: The Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security is the State of Idaho’s emergency management agency. Please note that Idaho BHS is an Idaho-specific agency, and it is not the same thing as the federal Department of Homeland Security. Within the State of Idaho organizational chart, Idaho BHS is aligned under the State of Idaho Military Division.

 

Original Release