S.D. Governor Seeks Presidential Disaster Declaration

The governor has asked for a presidential disaster declaration for homes and businesses in a dozen South Dakota counties hit by storms and flooding May 4-5.

If approved, it would free up programs that include Federal Emergency Management Agency grants for basic needs and emergency assistance, Small Business Administration disaster loans, crisis counseling, disaster unemployment assistance and disaster legal services.

It would help get people back on their feet, Gov. Mike Rounds said.

“However, any assistance provided by the federal government is not designed to make people whole again,” he said.

The storms included some tornadoes and heavy rain. Brown County and Aberdeen were especially hard hit by flooding after getting nearly 8 inches of rain.

Counties in the governor’s request are Aurora, Beadle, Brown, Clark, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Jerauld, Miner, Sanborn, Spink and Yankton.

Rounds said he may follow up with another disaster request for damage to roads, bridges and other public facilities.