Montana requests federal disaster aid from July windstorm

(The Center Square) – Gov. Greg Gianforte has requested a disaster declaration from President Joe Biden in response to a July windstorm in Missoula and Powell counties.

In his letter to Biden, Gianforte wrote that “long-lasting thunderstorms that produced strong damaging winds” in the area.

“When these thunderstorms settled into the Missoula area, they produced gusts of winds of 109 miles per hour on Mt. Sentinel, 81 mph at the Missoula Airport and an estimated 90-100 mph winds throughout the city of Missoula,” wrote Gianforte. “These wind speeds are consistent with the extensive widespread damage across the city and counties.”

Damage from the July 24th storm included downed power lines. According to the governor, several thousand people did not have electricity for a period of up to eight days.

“Debris activities and electrical cooperative facilities had the highest-dollar damages for this event, with the full joint damage assessments totaling $3,773,508.00 in estimated damages,” wrote the governor. “The damages this event incurred to trees and electrical systems are extensive, putting a financial burden on the communities and electrical co-ops.”

Gianforte went on to say he expects the damage estimate to increase, and pointed to damages at the University of Montana’s research facilities.

Gianforte visited Missoula soon after the storm. The governor also issued an executive order declaring a disaster.

“Today’s disaster declaration is a next step to help residents and coops in the area recover,” the governor said at the time.

Gianforte also thanked first responders, utilities, utility workers, and local officials for working to restore electricity.