State submits FEMA major-disaster request after December flooding; preliminary infrastructure damage set at $182.3 million
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Summary
Speaker 4 said the state is submitting a FEMA request to declare a major disaster for December floods and to enroll in the Public Assistance program, reporting a preliminary public-infrastructure damage assessment of $182.3 million and noting the figure may rise as assessments continue.
Speaker 4 announced that the state is submitting a request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency seeking a major-disaster declaration for December's historic flooding and approval for the Public Assistance program, which can reimburse up to 75% of qualifying infrastructure repairs.
"So today, we're submitting our request to FEMA to declare a major disaster as a result of December's historic flooding and approve our state for the public assistance program," Speaker 4 said, adding that the application is for infrastructure (not individual assistance) and that the submission deadline was the next day.
The administration's preliminary damage assessment for public infrastructure is $182,300,000, Speaker 4 said, and he emphasized that the number is early and expected to increase as additional assessments are completed. He also said the state is applying separately for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which can fund preventive measures and could cover up to 20% of the damage-assessment total (roughly $36.6 million based on the current figure).
Speaker 4 clarified the preliminary total excludes federal highways and some state highways that are subject to other federal funding processes (for example, issues related to Highway 2 and Federal Highway Administration coordination). He said the administration is working with cities, the business community, and congressional delegates to build bipartisan support for the request and to provide FEMA with documentation, photos and video to strengthen the case.
On timing, Speaker 4 said he did not have a specific response date from FEMA and acknowledged approvals for disaster funding have become less automatic in recent years; he said the state will continue to press the case. "I'm concerned, but I'm optimistic," Speaker 4 said.
Next steps: the state will continue assessments and follow FEMA's process; Speaker 4 said his office will share updates when FEMA responds.