Navajo Nation receives aid in two more Arizona counties

PHOENIX - Midsummer storm damage estimated at about $375,000 on the Navajo Nation in Apache and Coconino Counties will be eligible for federal disaster reimbursement, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced on Nov. 10.

At the request of the State of Arizona, an existing federal disaster declaration was amended to include the two northern Arizona counties. It is the second time that the initial disaster declaration, signed by President Bush on Sept. 7, has been expanded as more damage has been verified. Damage on the Navajo Nation within Navajo County was made eligible for aid in late September.

The state of Arizona requested a time extension to allow further assessment of the damage in Apache and Coconino Counties. That work was completed last week.

"This makes a total of eight counties within Arizona and enables the damage to Navajo tribal lands within these two counties to qualify for federal assistance," said Lee Rosenberg, who heads the FEMA disaster relief operation for Arizona. FEMA is a division of the Department of Homeland Security.

In both Apache and Coconino counties, the bulk of the estimated damage was to roads and bridges, with lesser amounts for public buildings, equipment and utilities. The additional eligibility brings Arizona's 2006 monsoon storm total to about $11.7 million.

Under FEMA's public assistance program, state, local and tribal governments and certain nonprofit organizations may receive federal funds for the repair, replacement or restoration of disaster-damaged facilities, as well as costs incurred for disaster cleanup or emergency actions taken to protect lives or property. The federal share is 75 percent of the eligible cost of a project.

Federal recovery assistance is now being provided to Pima and Pinal counties, the Navajo Nation within Apache, Coconino and Navajo counties, the Hopi Tribe within Navajo county, the San Carlos Apache tribe within Gila, Graham and Pinal Counties, the Gila River Indian Community within Pinal county, and the Tohono-O'odham Nation within Pima and Pinal counties.

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