Noem Requests Major Disaster Declaration Due to Flooding

Governor Kristi Noem formally requested a major disaster declaration from the President for 25 counties due to the severe flooding that occurred in South Dakota between June 16 and July 8, 2024. According to the National Weather Service, the rain event that created this flooding was a 1,000-year event (see Image 1 below).

In the aftermath of the flooding, teams from the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been on the ground conducting thorough damage assessments across the impacted areas, working closely to assess the extent of the damage and coordinate the necessary response efforts.

 Kristi Turman, Director of the Division of Emergency Services at the South Dakota Department of Public Safety said the thorough damage assessment was normal protocol for a presidential disaster declaration, and it’s an important part of the process to make sure all eligible counties and citizens are included.

During the flood, at least 11 river gauges hit new preliminary record-high levels. The Big Sioux River at Sioux City crested nearly eight feet higher than previous records.  

The request for a presidential disaster declaration highlights a critical need in 25 South Dakota counties including Lake, Miner McCook and Moody Counties.  As well as Aurora, Bennett, Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Clay, Davison, Douglas, Gregory, Hand, Hanson, Hutchinson, Jackson, Lincoln, Minnehaha, Sanborn, Tripp, Turner, Union, and Yankton.