SANDPOINT — Bonner County has approved an emergency declaration for damages incurred by the windstorm that tore through the region last week.

Commissioners Glen Bailey, Todd Sudick and Cary Kelly approved the declaration during an emergency meeting Friday morning. The declaration will assist the co-op power companies with damage to the power grid infrastructure caused by the windstorm.

Emergency Management Director Bob Howard presented the declaration to the commissioners, saying Inland Power, Northern Lights and Kootenai Electric all had damages from the windstorm. Howard said the declaration will be sent to the state, and from there, if approved, it will be sent for a presidential declaration at the federal level. The power co-ops could then apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement, which they qualify for, Howard said.

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