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Office of the Governor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD57501
(605) 773-3212
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 24, 2008
CONTACT: Mitch Krebs, Office of the Governor at 773-3212 or Brooke Bohnenkamp, Public Information Officer, at 773-3178
Individual Assistance Declaration Denied
Pierre, S.D. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today denied South Dakota’s request for an Individual Assistance Disaster Declaration. The declaration would have helped impacted individuals and businesses recover from the June 2, 2008 storms.
“Unfortunately, South Dakota wasn’t able to secure federal support for the 35 families whose homes received major damage or were destroyed by the storm. However, we have identified numerous in-state programs to help those who are recovering from the storm,” said Gov. Mike Rounds.
“The Office of Emergency Management and the Department of Social Services have directly contacted the people we’ve identified who have major damage to their homes. We need to be sure those families know what assistance programs are available and how to access them.”
For more information on available assistance, please contact your local emergency manager or the Red Cross. People living in the western half of the state should reach the Red Cross by calling the Black Hills Chapter at 1.888.271.3130. People living the eastern half of the state should reach the Red Cross by calling the Sioux Empire Chapter at 605.336.2448. The Black Hills and Sioux Empire Chapters will forward requests for assistance to the appropriate local Red Cross chapter.
On July 9, 2008, FEMA did approve South Dakota’s request for Public Assistance.It authorizes the federal government to provide relief and recovery assistance for up to 75-percent of the eligible damage to public infrastructure in the following counties and reservations: Aurora, Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Butte, Charles Mix, Clay, Dewey, Douglas, Gregory, Haakon, Hand, Hanson, Hughes, Hutchinson, Jackson, Lawrence, Lyman, McCook, Meade, Mellette, Moody, Perkins, Stanley, Tripp, Turner and Ziebach Counties, and the Cheyenne River, Crow Creek, and Lower Brule Reservations.
FEMA representatives have been in South Dakota working on Public Assistance relief efforts since July 11.
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