N.D. Storms Cause $1 Million in Damage

North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven is asking President Bush to issue a disaster declaration for Cass and Steele counties to help them recover from July 15 storms.

Hoeven said in a statement on Monday that preliminary assessments found more than $1 million in damage from hail and wind gusts that reached at least 80 mph. The National Weather Service found five tornado tracks embedded in the storms, the governor said.

The Western Area Power Administration reported 36 towers between Jamestown and Fargo were knocked down. Minnkota Power Cooperative reported 49 power transmission towers and power poles down.

The high winds caused a 70-mile-long path of destruction from Hope, in Steele County, south through the town of McLeod in Ransom County, the governor said.

It would be the second presidential disaster declaration for North Dakota counties in as many months. President Bush last month issued a disaster declaration for Cass County and a dozen other counties that were hit by flooding in June.