President Donald Trump has approved federal disaster aid for six states and tribal areas affected by spring and summer storms and floods.
The declarations, announced Thursday, provide funding for Kansas, North Carolina, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and tribes in Montana and South Dakota. In most cases, it took over a month for Trump to approve the requests, continuing a trend of longer waits for federal disaster relief.
Since taking office in January, Trump has approved more than 30 major disaster declarations, with approval times ranging from 15 days for Wisconsin flooding to 56 days for Montana tribal flooding.
Delays in disaster aid can leave individuals without funds for essential living expenses and slow local recovery efforts, including debris removal and infrastructure repairs, the Associated Press has reported.
The latest approvals provide public assistance for local governments and nonprofits, while in Wisconsin aid for individuals was approved; additional support for public entities may follow.
