North Dakota Governor Declares Disaster After June Storms Hit Six Counties

Gov. Kelly Armstrong has declared a statewide disaster following severe storms in early June that caused an estimated $4.6 million in damage to electrical infrastructure and impacted homes, farms and businesses across North Dakota.

The executive order covers storms from June 7-9 affecting Burke, Bottineau, Divide, McLean, Mercer and Mountrail counties.

“These storm systems caused significant damage and destruction requiring extensive response and recovery efforts by local agencies and citizens, and we’ve activated our State Emergency Operations Plan to help coordinate those efforts,” Armstrong said.

Officials reported numerous confirmed tornadoes, repeated rounds of severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds nearing 100 mph and hail as large as 3 inches in diameter. The storms caused widespread damage to power lines and disrupted services in multiple communities.

The declaration allows state agencies, including the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, to coordinate response and recovery efforts.

Get our free mobile app

It also serves as a step toward seeking a presidential disaster declaration. State and local officials are conducting preliminary damage assessments to determine whether impacts meet federal thresholds for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.