Mentmore, N.M., March 14, 2013 -- Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly (left) gives opening remarks during a historic signing ceremony with FEMA Region IX Administrator Nancy Ward (right). FEMA and Navajo Nation leaders signed a precedent setting formal agreement to implement federal disaster assistance directly with the Sovereign Navajo Nation to assist with their recovery from severe freeze that occurred December 15, 2012 to January 21, 2013. This is the first FEMA-Tribal agreement implemented west of the Mississippi since the amendment of the Stafford Act that provides federally recognized tribal governments to make a request directly to the President for a major disaster declaration without going through a state government. Photo by Kelly Hudson/FEMA