Central ND News

Gov. Kelly Armstrong has declared a statewide disaster in North Dakota following severe storms on August 7-8 that caused significant damage to electrical infrastructure, homes, businesses, and agriculture. The storms brought tornadoes, large hail, and winds between 70 and 100 mph. These conditions led to widespread tree damage, severe structural impacts, and power outages affecting more than 16,000 residents in south central and eastern parts of the state.

The disaster declaration was issued through an executive order. This action allows the state to request a presidential major disaster declaration. If approved, federal resources would become available to help with recovery efforts and lessen the financial impact on taxpayers and utility customers.

“While local jurisdictions were able to handle the initial response, the recovery from these storms has exceeded local and state capacity, with electric cooperatives especially hit hard,” Armstrong said. He also noted that damage to electrical infrastructure alone is estimated at nearly $6 million.

This latest declaration follows another statewide disaster declaration for storms on June 20-21. That earlier event produced more than 20 tornadoes, resulted in four deaths related to the storm, and caused over $11 million in public infrastructure damage as well as substantial losses to utilities, grain bins, homes, and other private property. A request by Armstrong for a presidential major disaster declaration for those storms remains pending.