State and counties facing disaster costs
Fifty-eight counties in the state have been included in at least one federal disaster declaration this year. Most of those came from the late winter storms and flooding. Severe storms and more flooding in late summer caused more damage, and counties and the state are awaiting yet another federal disaster declaration. Many counties, meanwhile, have run through their available dollars fixing that damage. Governor Kristi Noem says the state is facing a cash crunch also.
Noem says she wants state legislators in on the discussions.
Noem says she has ordered state agencies to cut back spending too.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is still in the state, assessing and totaling up all of the damages.