NAVAJO NATION – After disastrous storms hammered the Navajo Nation earlier this year, US President Joe Biden signed a disaster declaration for the Nation, opening resources for the nation to aide in their recovery. The late-winter storm washed out roads and destroyed some critical infrastructure across the Nation.
The storms battered Navajo Nation from January 24 to February 17.The Navajo Nation worked to allocate $3 million for disaster relief days after the storms ended. This funding was not enough, however, to fix the disaster which impacted the Nation. On April 11, Biden signed the disaster declaration, authorizing federal money to be used for certain non-profit organizations to handle emergency work, and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storms and flooding.
“In January, the 25th Navajo Nation Council took quick action to approve $3 million to provide emergency assistance for the 110 chapters due to heavy snow and mud during the winter season. Tuesday’s announcement from the White House is another significant step forward for the Navajo Nation’s effort to secure reimbursements of those funds and additional resources to support our communities. We are very grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration, FEMA, the Navajo Nation Washington Office, and all of our Navajo Nation employees for their efforts to help our Navajo communities,” said Navajo Nation Speaker Crystalyne Curley.
“We are grateful to the Biden Administration for issuing this disaster declaration. This winter was particularly hard on the Nation and the flooding blocked roads and isolated many families. We are hopeful that with the federal government’s help we will now be able to rebuild,” said Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office, Justin Ahasteen.
Benigno B. Ruiz of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been appointed to coordinate federal recovery opera-