Tester Urges FEMA to Help Montana Communities Recover from Flooding

Senator Holds Agency Accountable for Approving Critical Resources

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester is urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to expedite Montana’s request for help in recovering from disastrous flooding that struck several Montana counties this spring.

Tester pushed FEMA Administrator Brock Long to speed up the deployment of resources, should President Trump approve Montana’s request for a major disaster declaration.

“The amount of resources required to meet these communities’ needs as they recover from this flooding outstrips the ability of the state and local governments to pay for these damages,” Tester wrote. “These communities urgently need federal resources in order to help them restore their infrastructure and way of life.”

Tester notes the funding would help Blaine, Carbon, Golden Valley, Hill, Liberty, Missoula, Musselshell, Petroleum, Powell, Toole, and Valley Counties recover from this spring’s historic flooding.

“These communities need help getting back on their feet, plain and simple,” Tester said. “In Montana, when a neighbor is in trouble, everyone rolls up their sleeves and pitches in. I’m holding government accountable to do the same thing.”

Last summer, Tester successfully secured FEMA Disaster Assistance to help fight the Lodgepole Complex Fire, after the agency initially denied the state’s request for resources.

You can read Tester’s letter to Administrator Long HERE.