Otter requests federal disaster aid

LEWISTON – Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has requested more than $5 million in federal money for six northern Idaho counties to pay for fixing roads damaged by flooding and landslides that occurred during April.

Otter made the request Friday to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for damage in Boundary, Bonner, Shoshone, Clearwater, Nez Perce and Idaho counties.

The federal agency has 30 days to make a recommendation on Otter’s request to President Barack Obama, who will decide whether to issue a major disaster declaration for the area.

Officials said the damage in northern Idaho includes more than 50,000 cubic yards of debris that covered two sections of Dent Bridge Road north of Orofino when a hillside gave way.

A temporary road has been built around the landslide.

“But it’s only a temporary solution and that’s why we must continue to seek funding,” Don Gardner, Clearwater County emergency management coordinator, told the Lewiston Tribune.