Trump approves disaster declarations for AK, NE, ND and Leech Lake

President Donald Trump late Wednesday approved major disaster declarations for Alaska, Nebraska, North Dakota and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota, while denying requests from Vermont, Illinois and Maryland and leaving other applicants still awaiting decisions. The declarations authorize Federal Emergency Management Agency support for repairing public infrastructure and, in some cases, providing survivors with funds for repairs and temporary housing.

Alaska filed an expedited request after back-to-back storms this month that damaged coastal villages, displaced about 2,000 residents and killed at least one person. The declaration includes a 100 percent federal cost share of eligible disaster-related expenses for 90 days. North Dakota and Nebraska were approved for public assistance tied to severe weather in August. The Leech Lake Band was granted both public and individual assistance for a June storm that felled thousands of trees across tribal lands.

Tribal officials said the aid was urgently needed. Duane Oothoudt, emergency operations manager for the Leech Lake Police Department, said the tribe had spent about $1.5 million of its own funds clearing debris and...