Disaster Declaration Spurs Flood Damage Assessments

The signing Friday of a disaster declaration for spring flooding, by Governor Matt Mead activates state resources toward assessing damages and could lead to federal assistance.

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The Executive order by Governor Matt Mead enables partners, including the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security and The Wyoming National Guard, to assist local authorities in the flood damage assessment process.

Office of Homeland Security Director, Guy Cameron, says its a positive move.

"From an agricultural perspective there are 10 counties that have been collaborating with the Farm Service Agency and working with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. Those counties to-date have preliminary damage estimates that are about 3.6 million."

Cameron cautions that these are only preliminary figures.

"Now, as the result of this declaration, that process will be more inclusive throughout the state to assess every county that has damages, whether they are agricultural or non agricultural damages."

The Wyoming Department of Transportation has so far assessed over 3.2 million in damages to roadways and infrastructure across the state and he says the Wyoming Business Council is helping small businesses impacted by flood waters.

60 National Guard soldiers remain deployed monitoring levees and watching for breaches in Fremont and Carbon County.

Once the assessment process is complete, Wyoming's eligibility for disaster relief from the federal government will become more evident.