Trump approves FEMA disaster assistance for 5 Idaho counties hit by floods, mudslides

Aug. 27--The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Sunday that five Idaho counties will have access to federal disaster assistance after spring floods and mudslides that ravaged some towns.

Blaine, Camas, Custer, Elmore and Gooding counties will see federal funding for emergency work and repairs related to extreme weather that occurred from May 6 to June 16 of 2017. They'll also have access to funding for hazard mitigation, according to a FEMA press release.

The federal aid will pay for at least 75 percent of debris removal and "emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health," the release said. It will also foot at least 75 percent of the bill for "repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas, and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities."

Timothy B. Manner, the coordinator for federal recovery operations in those five counties, said additional disaster designations could be made in the future pending the results of damage assessments.

The federal aid comes after months of inclement weather across the state that led to several state disaster declarations. In May, FEMA denied Idaho's request for disaster assistance to five counties hit particularly hard by winter storms.

Nicole Blanchard: 208-377-6410, @NMBlanchard

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