COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Federal grants to help northern Idaho communities recover from severe winter storms late last year have reached nearly $700,000, according to officials with the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security (IBHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This figure is expected to continue to grow. The grants were made available under major presidential disaster declarations for a November windstorm and severe storms in December.

The grants come through FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program, which reimburses state and local governments, federally recognized tribes and certain private nonprofit organizations for eligible disaster-related expenses. Funding may cover emergency protective measures, debris removal and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged infrastructure.

“Northern Idaho counties suffered significant damage and upheaval following a late November wind storm, followed just weeks later by a severe winter storm event,” said IBHS Director Brad Richy. “Over these past few months, IBHS and FEMA have forged a strong partnership with our PA applicants in order to expedite the approval process.”

The FEMA grants obligated to the state for eligible applicants include:

  • $171,970 to Kootenai Electric Cooperative for debris removal, power restoration and emergency protective measures;

  • $133,083 to Inland Power and Light for power restoration;

  • $76,039 to the City of Plummer for debris removal, electric distribution and emergency protective measures;

  • $65,604 to Kootenai County for debris removal;

  • $64,518 to Northern Lights, Inc. for debris removal;

  • $50,528 to the Lake Highway District for debris removal;

  • $41,692 to Clearwater Power Co. for electrical distribution repairs;

  • $36,791 to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe for emergency protective measures, damaged buildings and contents, and Internet utility repairs; and

  • $30,552 to the Worley Highway District for debris removal.

  • Smaller grants totaling about $19,000 for building and equipment repairs have been obligated to towns, school districts and water and sewage plant work.

“Although PA dollars go to governments and nonprofits after a disaster, they benefit everyone in a community,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Dolph Diemont of FEMA. “The money helps protect people and property, clean up neighborhoods, haul away disaster debris, put utilities back in order, and repair roads and bridges that residents use every day.”

The Dec. 23, 2015, major disaster declaration for the Nov. 17, 2015, severe storm and straight-line winds provides assistance to eligible applicants in Benewah, Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. The Feb. 1, 2016, declaration for the Dec. 16-27, 2015, severe winter storms provides assistance for applicants in Benewah, Bonner and Kootenai counties.

Under the PA program, FEMA reimburses eligible applicants for at least 75 percent of their eligible and documented expenses, while the remainder is the non-federal share. FEMA pays the federal portion directly to the state, which administers and disburses the grants.

Both disaster declarations provide cost-share grants for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state, tribal and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property during future disasters. 

More information about the PA program is available at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and http://bhs.idaho.gov/Pages/Operations/DisasterAssistance/PublicAssistance.aspx.

Additional information for the specific disasters, including funds obligated, is available at www.fema.gov/disaster/4246 and www.fema.gov/disaster/4252 .

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Nearly $700,000 Awarded in FEMA Public Assistance Grants for Northern Idaho

 

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – State agencies – along with local and tribal governments and certain private nonprofit agencies – affected by the Nov. 17, 2015, severe storm in northern Idaho have until Friday to submit the paperwork needed to request reimbursement grants.

Submitting a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) with the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security (IBHS) is the first step in applying for funds under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance program.

President Obama’s Dec. 23, 2015, disaster declaration provides aid under the Public Assistance (PA) program for eligible applicants in Benewah, Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. They have 30 days from the declaration date to submit RPAs.

The program reimburses state and local governments, federally recognized tribes and certain private nonprofit organizations for eligible expenses they incurred in protecting lives and property ahead of and during the storm as well as in cleaning up and repairing afterward.

“Those entities that sustained damages or had emergency expenses because of the November storm are encouraged to submit their requests for assistance by the Friday deadline,” said IBHS Director Brad Richy. “FEMA is working closely with us to help you recover much of your eligible expenses.”

Any applicant or potential applicant seeking information on the RPA procedure or the PA program may call IBHS Recovery Coordinator Jarod Dick at 208-258-6515.

The November 17 storm and straight-line winds left thousands without power, blocked roads with downed trees and other debris and caused significant damage to public infrastructure.

FEMA reimburses applicants for 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 nonprofit organizations that incurred costs.

In addition to Public Assistance grants, additional funds will be available in Idaho under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The state has elected to target the four designated counties and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe for HMGP assistance, although grant opportunities may be extended to other entities statewide if any available funds remain.

“Under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program FEMA is providing additional funds to Idaho to help communities implement critical mitigation measures aimed at reducing the risk of loss of life and property in future disasters,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Dolph Diemont of FEMA.

The HMGP, administered by the state, is also a cost-share program, with FEMA providing 75 percent of the funds. This program provides supplemental financial assistance to public entities and certain private nonprofits to reduce the risk to life and property in future disasters.

Potential HMGP applicants must file a Letter of Intent with IBHS by Feb. 8, 2016.

More information about the PA program is available at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and http://bhs.idaho.gov/Pages/Operations/DisasterAssistance/PublicAssistance.aspx.

More information about the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is available at www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program and http://bhs.idaho.gov/Pages/Operations/DisasterAssistance/HMGP.aspx.

Additional information for the specific disaster, including funds obligated to the state, is available at www.fema.gov/disaster/4246.

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Deadline is Friday to Submit Requests for Public Assistance following November Storm

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Idaho to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe storm and straight-line winds on November 17, 2015

The President’s action makes federal funding available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storm and straight-line winds in the counties of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Thomas J. Dargan has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.  Dargan said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

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The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications. 

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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President Declares Disaster for Idaho