Gianforte, Daines Demand Funding for Six Montana Counties

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 -- Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release:

Congressman Greg Gianforte and U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Brock Long to urge the agency to reconsider the denial of Public Assistance for Carbon, Golden Valley, Missoula, Musselshell, Petroleum, and Powell Counties.

"These counties are in desperate need of federal assistance to rebuild their infrastructure," the letter writes. "These communities cannot afford any further delay and need federal assistance for their cleanup and recovery efforts."

To read the full letter click HERE (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.daines.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_FEMA-2520-2D-25202018-2520Flooding-2520Denial-2520Letter.pdf&d=DwMFAw&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=3lPtIBdzHB_nPfehPpCdbMKLtrqmDeLEc5oyVcWxyf0&m=qR5WlFxX2AIUs5SGdBJdYZXKe4-Wi3WDh6ZYDm2Sh2M&s=bogP5zBJeumV5xSmR_skDxYmSwCIfyj1p5ptYJNMQlo&e=).

Background:

As a result of heavy flooding earlier this year, the State of Montana requested a major disaster declaration on June 18, 2018.

The State requested Public Assistance, which repairs and replaces disaster-damaged facilities, for 12 counties including: Blaine, Carbon, Golden Valley, Hill, Liberty, Missoula, Musselshell, Petroleum, Pondera, Powell, Toole, and Valley. The State also requested Hazard Mitigation Assistance, which supports efforts for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from future flooding, to be available statewide.

On August 14, 2018, Gianforte and Daines sent a letter urging FEMA to approve all of the assistance and funding requested by the state.

On August 30, 2018, Gianforte and Daines announced six of the 12 counties received Public Assistance from FEMA including: Blaine, Hill, Liberty, Pondera, Toole and Valley. They also announced Hazard Mitigation Assistance was granted statewide.

On May 15, 2018, Daines pressed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on the need to assist communities in Montana impacted by severe flooding. In July, Daines' bill to extend the National Flood Insurance Program was signed into law.