NEWS RELEASE
Idaho Office of Emergency Management
For immediate release August 29, 2017
Contact: Elizabeth Duncan
(208) 258-6595 eduncan@imd.idaho.gov

Presidential Disaster Declaration Signed For Five Idaho Counties

Third major disaster declaration for Idaho in connection with this year’s especially severe weather

 

BOISE – President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Disaster Declaration August 27, 2017 for five Idaho counties that suffered unprecedented losses due to spring flooding. The declaration allows the federal government to help communities recover from flooding related destruction that occurred May 6 through June 16, 2017.
The declaration provides assistance under FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program for eligible local and tribal governments and certain private nonprofits in Blaine, Camas, Custer, Elmore and Gooding counties. Elmore and Gooding counties now are designated for assistance under two disaster declarations.

“As our prayers and thoughts are with residents of Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey, we know all too well in Idaho that flooding can cause untold destruction and havoc,” Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter said. “I’m grateful for the President’s decision to provide support for these five counties and for the ongoing assistance being provided to counties that are part of Idaho’s first two disaster declarations.”

IOEM and FEMA are already working together closely to help reimburse applicants in 11 counties for their costs resulting from flooding that occurred in February. Those counties are Bingham, Cassia, Elmore, Franklin, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Twin Falls and Washington. Additionally, IOEM and FEMA are working to help reimburse applicants in nine counties for their costs resulting from the severe weather in March. Those counties are Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Shoshone and Valley.
“This has been a challenging year for Idaho,” said Brad Richy of IOEM. “Thankfully IOEM and FEMA have already built a strong partnership and stand ready to provide swift assistance to all eligible applicants.”

Application procedures for the designated state and local governments will be explained at a series of state-led applicant briefings. Recovery officials will announce the dates and locations of the briefings in the affected areas.

Under the Public Assistance program, FEMA reimburses applicants for at least 75 percent of their eligible expenses, while the other 25 percent is the nonfederal share. The federal portion is paid directly to the state, which then makes disbursements to the local and tribal jurisdictions and organizations that incurred costs. More information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program can be found at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.

 

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The Idaho Office of Emergency Management is a Division of the Idaho Military Division. The services we provide are to facilitate emergency management in Idaho, and to assist neighboring states. The men and women of this Division are dedicated to their mission of protecting the lives and property of the people of Idaho, as well as preserving the environmental and the economic health of Idaho.

 

Original Release