Cass and Clay counties are among 12 in North Dakota and Minnesota receiving approval for federal disaster assistance after a November ice storm and blizzard.
Requests by both states for public assistance funding were approved late Wednesday by President Bush after the Nov. 27-30 storm knocked out power to thousands of customers.
The designation allows communities and some nonprofit organizations like electric cooperatives to receive reimbursement for damage repairs through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven submitted a disaster declaration request Dec. 21 for Cass, Ransom, Richland and Sargent counties, where storm damage totaled about $1.8 million.
Don Canton, a spokesman for Hoeven's office, said word was received late Wednesday that Cass, Ransom, Richland and Sargent counties were approved.
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The request marked the third disaster request by Hoeven in 2005. Bush approved the previous requests for assistance after severe summer rains and heavy snow fall in central and western North Dakota in October.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty sent a letter Dec. 27 to the president requesting aid for Clay, Norman, Wilkin, Traverse, Yellow Medicine, Lincoln, Lac Qui Parle and Big Stone counties.
The governor's letter estimated the storm caused more than $8.3 million in damages, mostly related to power lines downed by ice, snow and wind.
More than 5,000 families lost power when numerous non-profit rural electric cooperatives suffered infrastructure damage.
