11:06 a.m. - GRAFTON, N.D. - Disaster relief money for repair of flood-damaged North Dakota roads and bridges is being delayed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, federal officials say.

Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Dennis Lowery said 26 counties and three North Dakota reservations that were included in a federal disaster declaration after heavy rain and flooding have been notified that the money will be delayed until at least Sept. 30, because of hurricane recovery needs.

"This would apply to repair of roads and bridges, culverts, and things like that," Lowery said of the delay. "Emergency activities that took place during the course of this (North Dakota) disaster - for instance, law enforcement working barricades and so forth, debris removal and so forth - that will be funded regardless of the holdup in the funding caused by the hurricane."

In Ward County, where road damage is estimated at more than $500,000, commissioners decided to send a letter of protest to President Bush and the state's congressional delegation.

"I don't think we should be penalized," Commission Chairwoman Molla Romine said.

"It was the president who declared the disaster for us," Commissioner Jim Lee said.

Lowery said inspectors still are in North Dakota, checking out up to 1,200 eligible damage sites. FEMA hopes to wrap up its work stemming from the summer disaster sometime in November.

North Dakota has received more than $472,000 in federal grant money so far to help reimburse emergency spending for flood damage in June and July, FEMA said. The agency expects damage to top $13 million.