11.21.11

Hoeven: Federal Flood Assistance For North Dakota to Exceed $1 Billion

Minot Area Has Received Almost $400 Millon, Additional Funding Pending

MINOT – Senator John Hoeven today took the occasion of his Library of Congress book donation ceremony to update local leaders and the community on federal flood assistance funding for the state of North Dakota and the Minot region. Based on state estimates, North Dakota is expected to receive more than $1 billion in federal disaster assistance. The Minot area has received almost $400 million from all federal programs, and additional funding is pending. 

Hoeven provided North Dakotans with an update on federal disaster funding after Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) last week that included funding for both Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and the Emergency Relief Program for roads. Congress also provided funding earlier for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Hoeven said North Dakota’s share of disaster relief from a number of federal funding sources has been approved, but is not yet allocated. Last week Congress passed substantial funding for disasters nationwide in a “minibus” bill that combined several different funding bills into a single piece of legislation. That included emergency disaster funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), the Economic Development Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Transportation Emergency Funding. 

This year, North Dakota will receive a record of approximately $550 million in Transportation funding to assist with flood recovery and energy development impacts in western North Dakota. That figure consists of between $317 million and $340 million in additional emergency road funding above the state’s usual allocation of about $235 million, Hoeven said. 

Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, introduced the $400 million CDBG measure in September as an amendment to the Transportation Housing and Urban Development funding bill, and he pushed for additional disaster funding in other appropriations bills. Hoeven also served on the conference committee that negotiated CDBG funding in the final version of the Transportation Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill approved by the joint committee and passed by Congress last week. 

“While some federal disaster assistance funding is still pending, substantial resources have already been committed statewide in North Dakota to flood recovery and protection work, and in particular to the Minot area’s protection effort,” Hoeven said. “We will continue to make the case for a substantial share of the pending funding as well, to make sure we’re maximizing program funding from all available sources.” 

Based on state damage estimates, federal assistance for North Dakota will total more than $1 billion. The figures below are based on current claims. This number will grow as additional claims are made. 

FEDERAL FLOOD RELIEF EFFORTS FOR NORTH DAKOTA

As of November 14, 2011

Statewide Grants, Direct Assistance and Loans (based on claims to date)

 

  • Emergency Relief Program funding for roads, est’d Fed share          $553 million

(Note: This includes at least $317 million in Emergency Relief Program funding for roads and $236 million in regular Federal highway funding for North Dakota in 2011.)

  • Public assistance for infrastructure damage statewide, est’d federal share                                        $270 million
  • FEMA Individual Assistance, statewide funding to date                $94.7 million
  • SBA disaster loans                                                                 $241 million
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2011 statewide flood fight        $37.4 million

(includes funding to date with levee and dam repair funds forthcoming)

  • Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, state estimate                    $80 million

 

Pending:

  • Community Development Block Grants                                  pending

(National funding: $400 million)

  • Economic Development Assistance programs                          pending

(National funding: $200 million)

  • Department of Agriculture Assistance programs                      pending

(National funding: $336 million)

 

Statewide Federal Share to Date:   Approx:        $1.276 billion

 

FEDERAL FLOOD RELIEF EFFORTS FOR MINOT/WARD COUNTY

As of November 14, 2011

 

Grants, Loans and Direct Assistance to Minot/Ward County

 

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2011 Mouse River flood fight             $24.8 million

(includes funding to date with levee and dam repair funds forthcoming)

  • Southern Mouse River Basin Road Repairs, est’d federal share            $43.5 million
  • Public assistance for infrastructure damage (including schools)           $13.9 million
  • FEMA Individual Assistance to date:                                                $89.1 million
  • SBA disaster loans:                                                                          $223 million

 

Pending:

  • Hazard Mitigation Grant Program estimate                                       pending

(Statewide estimate: $80 million)

  • Community Development Block Grants                                            pending

(National funding: $400 million)

  • Economic Development Assistance programs                                    pending

(National funding: $200 million)

  • Department of Agriculture Assistance programs                                pending

(National funding: $336 million)

 

Minot/Ward County Grants, loans and direct assistance to date:          $394.3 million