- Details
- By Darren Thompson
On Sunday, Jan. 1, President Biden approved a disaster declaration made by the Havasupai Tribe in northern Arizona for damages the Tribe sustained from severe flooding in October 2022.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said in a statement that federal emergency aid will be distributed to supplement the Havasupai Tribe’s recovery efforts from the flooding. The Tribe is preparing to re-open the reservation for tourism after it closed its businesses for nearly three years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The White House noted, "The President’s action makes federal funding available to Tribal and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the flooding. Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the Havasupai Tribe.”
The funds will be distributed to the Tribe and other local nonprofit organizations to share costs for emergency work and repairs from flood damage. There has been no published amount of funding to be distributed.
Want more Native News? Get the free daily newsletter today.
The Havasupai Tribe said on its website, “On Oct. 1, 2022, the Tribe also experienced severe flooding, which destroyed several bridges and trails that are needed not only for our tourists but the everyday movement of goods and services into Supai Village.”
The Havasupai Indian Reservation is located in the Grand Canyon on the south side of the Colorado River. It is unreachable by road and is considered one of the most remote Indian reservations in the country. In March 2020, the Tribe closed its borders to protect its members from the pandemic, with Tribal officials extending the closure through the 2022 tourism season. The Tribe announced on its website that it is eager to open its reservation up for visitors on Feb. 1, 2023.
More Stories Like This
Sault Tribe Joins the Fight for Mother Nature’s Legal Rights with New ResolutionFormer NCAI President Fawn Sharp Appointed to Nature Conservancy Board
New Interagency Agreement Supports Water Tribal Water and Sanitation Projects
Biden Unrolls Multi-Million Dollar Solar Grant on Earth Day, More to Come Throughout Week
Native American Rights Fund Gets $100K For Tribal Eco-Stewardship Legal Support
Native Perspective. Native Voices. Native News.
We launched Native News Online because the mainstream media often overlooks news that is important is Native people. We believe that everyone in Indian Country deserves equal access to news and commentary pertaining to them, their relatives and their communities. That's why the story you’ve just finished was free — and we want to keep it that way, for all readers. We hope you'll consider making a donation to support our efforts so that we can continue publishing more stories that make a difference to Native people, whether they live on or off the reservation. Your donation will help us keep producing quality journalism and elevating Indigenous voices. Any contribution of any amount — big or small — gives us a better, stronger future and allows us to remain a force for change. Donate to Native News Online today and support independent Indigenous-centered journalism. Thank you.