President Obama declared Thursday an emergency exists in North Dakota, due to flooding, and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts, retroactive to Tuesday.
According to a White House press release, Obama's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population.
The news release said the agencies also also authorized to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in Barnes, Cass, Richland, and Traill counties.
Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.
Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.
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Willie G. Nunn was named federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.
