FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014

CONTACT: Terry Woster, Public Information Officer, 605-773-3231

  FEMA Approves $1.35 Million for Rapid City Blizzard Debris Clean-up

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will award $1.35 million in public assistance funds to the city of Rapid City for debris clean-up from an October blizzard.

The funds are being provided to reimburse the city for eligible costs of cleaning up storm debris during the first 30 days following the October blizzard. The $1.35 million represents 85 percent of the costs of that work. The state of South Dakota will provide an additional $159,000, which represents 10 percent of the eligible costs. The city is responsible for the remaining 5 percent.

Rapid City is participating in a pilot program through which FEMA reimburses a greater cost share if debris removal is expedited. FEMA provides 85 percent of eligible costs for work completed within 30 days of the disaster, and 80 percent for work completed within 31 to 90 days. Work completed between 91 and 180 days is reimbursed at the normal 75 percent rate.

“The blizzard caused wide-spread damage throughout the city and necessitated a massive clean-up and debris removal effort,’’ said Kristi Turman, director of the Office of Emergency Management in the Department of Public Safety. “With the federal government reimbursing 85 percent and the state 10 percent for the expedited work, the city is obligated only for 5 percent. That’s a real incentive to do the debris removal and cleanup as quickly as possible.’’

The payment is the initial award to the city under the presidential disaster declaration made by President Obama after the October storm. Other awards related to the blizzard recovery are expected to be announced in the future.

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