The Federal Emergency Management Agency has again denied Idaho’s request for disaster assistance in five Idaho counties hit hard by severe winter storms.
In a letter dated Tuesday, FEMA Acting Administrator Robert Fenton rejected an appeal of the agency’s decision to deny Idaho’s bid for federal assistance in Ada, Canyon, Custer, Payette and Washington counties in the wake of snowstorms from December 22, 2016, to January 19, 2017.
While Gov. Butch Otter expressed frustration at the news, he said the state will continue to explore every opportunity to help communities address their most serious recovery needs.
Meanwhile, last week President Trump signed a Presidential Disaster Declaration making available federal relief in response to flooding from February 5 to March 3 in Cassia, Franklin, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Twin Falls, and Washington counties.
Still pending is a federal disaster declaration for flooding, landslides, and avalanches from March 6 to April 3 in Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Shoshone and Valley counties.
