North Dakota – President Donald Trump approved a request from Gov. Kelly Armstrong for a presidential major disaster declaration following severe storms that produced tornadoes across North Dakota on June 20–21. The declaration unlocks federal assistance to help cover costs of public infrastructure repairs and recovery efforts.
“This much-needed disaster aid will help our state’s communities and utilities recover from one of the most powerful summer storms in recent history,” Armstrong said. He expressed gratitude to President Trump, FEMA, and the citizens, volunteers, first responders, utility providers, and emergency managers who worked to restore services and support recovery.
The declaration provides public assistance through FEMA, which notified the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services that the request had been granted. Armstrong had submitted the request on July 21.
The June storms spawned more than 20 tornadoes, resulting in four storm-related deaths and causing over $11 million in public infrastructure damage, along with significant impacts to utilities, grain bins, homes, and private property.
The presidential declaration covers all 19 counties requested: Barnes, Burleigh, Cass, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Grant, Griggs, Kidder, McLean, Morton, Oliver, Ransom, Sheridan, Sioux, Steele, Stutsman, Traill, and Wells.
A separate request for a disaster declaration for storms on August 7–8 remains pending. Those storms caused more than $6 million in damage, primarily to electrical infrastructure, and affected Barnes, Grand Forks, Griggs, Kidder, Nelson, Steele, and Stutsman counties.
More information about recovery efforts, including the Grain Storage & Facility Rebuilder Program created after the June storms, is available at www.ndresponse.gov.
