The Biden administration granted federal funding to assist the Navajo Nation in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding from Jan. 14-17. The funds will be used for emergency repairs and other possible mitigation efforts.
The largest Native American reservation in the United States, which spans across Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, declared a state of emergency earlier this year when heavy snow, high winds, mud, and flooding conditions affected multiple communities.
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“Federal funding is available to the Navajo Nation and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storms and flooding,” a Tuesday statement from the White House said. “Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the Navajo Nation.”
The storm, which hit days after Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren was sworn into office on Jan. 10, promoted the deployment of Division of Transportation resources to Defiance Plateau communities in need of immediate assistance.
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Benigno B. Ruiz of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been named as the federal coordinating officer to delegate recovery operations in the damaged areas.
“Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the Tribal Nation and warranted by the results of further damage assessments,” the statement concluded.
