Fort Belknap declares emergency

Dangerous conditions caused by abnormally severe winter weather conditions have prompted Fort Belknap Indian Community President Andy Werk Jr. to declare a state of emergency on the reservation Thursday.

“The situation is creating considerable hardship for the members of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and the Fort Belknap Indian Community government,” the declaration says.

The situation, the declaration says, has effected individuals, living conditions, travel and the economy of the reservation.

The declaration says that the local emergency operations plan and local orders will take immediate action to protect public safety and direct the provision of such assistance as can be delivered and coordinate the response of all local agencies that provide assistance on the reservation.

Tribal officials did not return calls asking for comment about the declaration before print deadline this morning.