After Urging by Tester, Daines, Rosendale, FEMA Approves Request for Individual Assistance

After urging from U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines and Congressman Matt Rosendale, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today approved the State of Montana’s request to designate Carbon, Park, and Stillwater counties for Individual Assistance in response to the severe flooding in Southern Montana.

The Individual Assistance designation will allow individuals whose homes or businesses were damaged by the flooding to access additional resources, including through the Individuals and Housing Program, Disaster Case Management, Crisis Counseling and Assistance, Disaster Legal Services, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and Clean Removal Assistance.

“We are glad to see FEMA approve the State’s request for Individual Assistance in Carbon, Park, and Stillwater counties, which were hit particularly hard by the severe flooding in southern Montana” the Montana delegation said in a joint statement. “This approval is critical to rebuilding our rural communities and reviving small businesses, and we look forward to working with FEMA to ensure these resources are delivered to folks as soon as possible so they can start getting back on their feet.”

The state of Montana submitted a request to FEMA on June 23, 2022 for individual assistance for communities affected by the severe flooding in Montana. That same day, the Montana congressional delegation sent a letter to FEMA Administrator Criswell, urging the agency to approve the request.

Earlier this month, the Montana congressional delegation urged the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to provide outfitters, guides, and other members of affected communities support and flexibility in finding alternative options to operate on public lands in the wake of catastrophic flooding in Southwest Montana.

The Montana congressional delegation also successfully urged the Federal Highway Administration to take immediate action and provide much needed funding through the FWHA Emergency Relief Program to areas affected by flooding resulting in $3 million in funding for Montana roads and highways. They also sent a letter to President Biden, which led to the approval of a major disaster declaration and activation of critical FEMA public assistant and support for recovery efforts. The State of Montana submitted a disaster declaration request to the federal government on June 15, 2022 in response to major flooding across south-central Montana, which was approved by President Biden the next day. Severe weather has resulted in significant property damage to homes, businesses, roads, sewers, water systems and Yellowstone National Park. Acting Governor Kirsten Juras declared a statewide disaster on June 14, 2022.