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Montana Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte was on holiday in Italy this week when he declared a “nationwide disaster” due to a severe flood that hit Yellowstone National Park, Fox News confirmed on Friday.
According to the governor’s office, Gianforte left for Italy on Saturday with his wife Susan for a “long-planned personal, private trip” before the floods began.
YELLOW STONE FLOOD: PHOTOS SHOW DAMAGES AS ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITIES ASSESS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
FILE – Greg Gianforte meets with members of business and the environment at Chico Hot Springs below Emigrant Peak on October 10, 2018 in Pry, Montana. (William Campbell-Corbis via Getty Images)
“When a severe flood occurs, the governor delegates his authority to respond to Vice Governor Kristen Jurass’s disaster, with which he has worked closely over the past four days to take swift and decisive action,” Governor’s spokesman Brooke Stroke told Fox. News. “Grateful to be back in Montana, the governor looks forward to being on site at Gardiner this morning to investigate the damage and meet with residents and local authorities to rebuild and rebuild.
Gianforte announced on Tuesday that he had declared “a nationwide flood disaster to help affected communities get back on their feet as soon as possible”.
This aerial photo provided by the National Park Service shows a flooded north entrance road to Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Mont, June 13, 2022 (Jacob W. Frank / National Park Service via AP)
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The governor was reportedly out of state when a formal request for disaster relief was sent to President Biden, showing the signature of Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras, “on behalf of Gov. Greg Gianforte,” several publications reported earlier this week.
Gianforte’s office has faced some criticism for refusing to say where the governor is.
On Friday, Stroy told Fox News that the move was taken by security measures for the governor’s security.
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Debris is seen blocking a street in Red Lodge, Montana, on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, after the floods passed through a neighborhood with hundreds of houses the day before. Residents were cleaning up after record floods in southern Montana this week. (AP Photo / Matthew Brown)
“Since the governor has returned to the country and security issues are no longer a problem, we are providing information as promised,” the official said.
Gianforte on Friday applauded the coordinated efforts of state, local and federal officials and said officials would continue to work to help disaster victims.
The governor encouraged Americans to keep their plans for a trip to Yellowstone intact this summer.
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