BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded a total of $2,860,827 to Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative for repairs due to wildfires and straight-line winds on Oct. 5 and 6, 2024.
Prior to the wildfires, portions of western North Dakota were suffering from severe or extreme drought. Damages from the wildfires and straight-line winds caused distribution and transmission utility poles to burn, break, and damage sub-assemblies, resulting in a county-wide power outage period. In response, Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative replaced utility poles of varying heights and class sizes, powerline conductors, along with all burnt electrical component sub-assemblies.
Last November, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) and former U.S. Representative Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) in sending a letter of support to former President Joe Biden requesting he approve a major disaster declaration submitted by then-Governor Doug Burgum. The disaster declaration was approved and is being distributed by FEMA under the Trump administration.
“While North Dakotans are extremely resilient, these historic wildfires have deeply impacted the agricultural community and electrical infrastructure,” the delegation wrote in the letter. “The loss of livestock, structures, equipment, and the destruction of shelterbelts and windbreaks will take years to recover from. We are immensely grateful for the first responders, farmers and ranchers, as well as the local, state, tribal, and federal agencies who swiftly responded to these wildfires, and prevented further loss of life and property.”