A third Presidential disaster declaration has been approved for the state.  Governor Kristi Noem said that President Trump has approved the state’s request for a third declaration, covering the damage done by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred June 30th through July 21st.  

The declaration will allow federal money to be used to help local government entities recover from infrastructure damage in Butte, Gregory, Kingsbury, Lawrence, Meade, and Tripp counties, as well as the Cheyenne River and the Lower Brule Indian Reservations.  A preliminary assessment of the damage was estimated to be two-and-a-half-million dollars.  

In her request for a disaster declaration, Noem told the President that many areas had experienced record rainfall which resulted in flooding of roads and other infrastructure. Confirmed tornadoes and high winds caused property damage in other areas. She said two of the state’s major industries, agricultural and tourism, have been impacted.

  This is the third federal disaster declaration for South Dakota this year. South Dakota received a federal disaster declaration in June for severe winter storms and flooding that occurred March 13th through April 26th and that affected 58 counties and three reservations. A second disaster declaration for the period of May 26th through June 7th was approved in September for flooding and storms that occurred in 25 counties and two reservations.

The state is awaiting approval of a fourth federal disaster declaration for September storms and flooding.