President Donald Trump approved a Major Disaster Declaration for 10 north Idaho counties on Thursday, unlocking federal aid months after a December straight-line wind event tore across the region and left widespread damage in its wake.
The declaration covers Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce and Shoshone counties. It authorizes the Public Assistance Program, which lets government departments and some private nonprofit businesses apply for help with recovery efforts after a storm that brought gusts of 80 to 90 mph from Dec. 16-18.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little said the declaration was a critical step for North Idaho communities trying to recover from the storm and that more resources were now being unlocked to help rebuild. The state and local officials who pushed for the declaration were backed by findings from a joint preliminary damage assessment in April that put total damage above $8.3 million.
That assessment included FEMA, the Idaho Office of Emergency Management and local representatives, and it helped build the case for federal support. The windstorm was not a brief nuisance; it knocked out power for more than 100,000 customers, forced 15 school districts to close because of extreme weather and dangerous travel, and caused multiple injuries and one fatality when a tree fell on an occupied home.
Ben Roeber of the Idaho Office of Emergency Management said the severe straight-line winds left a trail of damage across northern Idaho and called the declaration a vital step. He said the funding will help restore public infrastructure, and the state will continue working with FEMA and local partners to rebuild.
The next deadline is May 7, 2026, when the Idaho Office of Emergency Management will work with potential applicants to submit a Request for Public Assistance within the 30-day application window. That makes the pace of the response the real test now: the declaration is in place, but the money will only reach the hardest-hit counties if agencies and eligible nonprofits file on time and move quickly enough to turn federal approval into repaired roads, facilities and services.