BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Water, announced today the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) informed him the agency’s Region 8 is approved to proceed with permanent work on a case-by-case basis for emergency and sole access issues.

This fulfills in part the request made by Senator Cramer and local leaders at a townhall in Stutsman county last Friday, where North Dakotans voiced their concerns about FEMA’s response to local flood damage.

“North Dakotans get results,” said Senator Cramer. “FEMA’s announcement is commonsense and a good first step for the citizens of Stutsman county and the North Dakotans whose livelihood has been threatened by this flood damage. It allows for flexibility to meet North Dakota’s needs and follows the intent of President Trump’s natural disaster declaration. I thank FEMA for listening to our constituents and urge the agency to swiftly complete this policy on a long-term basis.”

Road access in Stutsman County and throughout North Dakota has been substantially degraded by recent natural disasters, putting at risk the health, safety, and livelihood of residents who cannot reach emergency services. Farmers are also struggling to access their fields during an already limited planting timeframe. To combat this, President Trump issued a major disaster declaration at the request of Governor Burgum and with the support of the congressional delegation, authorizing 75 percent federal reimbursement of the eligible costs of disaster response and recovery work undertaken by eligible applicants.

While FEMA had previously stated it will not consider submerged or inundated roads eligible for permanent repair until the water recedes and visible damages can be verified, officials confirmed to Senator Cramer today what they indicated at last week’s town hall they would do: change their policy in a way which lets North Dakota’s local governments receive assistance.