South Dakota Disaster Aid Tops $15 Million
Release Date: June 15, 2007
Release Number: 1702-016
» More Information on South Dakota Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
Sioux Falls, S.D. -- State and federal officials have approved more than $15 million in disaster grants and low-interest loans for South Dakota homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damages resulting from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding May 4-5, 2007.
Here is a summary of disaster recovery activities to date:
- 4,107 South Dakotans have applied for disaster assistance by calling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
- $5 million in grants to 2,545 households have been approved by FEMA for home repairs and temporary alternate housing.
- Individuals and families have received more than $400,000 in Other Needs Assistance to help meet other essential disaster-related needs such as medical expenses, transportation and personal property not covered by insurance or other aid programs. FEMA will pay 75 percent and the state will pay the remaining 25 percent.
- Low-interest disaster loans totaling $9.2 million have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help homeowners and renters, businesses of all sizes, and private, nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
- The state has provided $611,000 in emergency disaster aid to more than 600 people in the form of vouchers for food and clothing, and help with prescription drugs.
- 4,419 South Dakotans have visited Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs). The centers provide information about various disaster recovery programs including state-based services, individual and household assistance, disaster unemployment benefits, SBA low-interest disaster loans, and guidance on rebuilding wisely.
- Attempting to reach every resident who may be eligible for disaster assistance, outreach teams representing the state and FEMA have contacted or left printed information for people in 5,775 households. In addition, teams have visited 1,071 businesses, 301 churches and community-based organizations, and more than 200 local officials providing information on assistance programs and how to apply.
- FEMA inspectors have completed inspections of 3,583 homes assessing storm- and flood-related damages in an important step toward possible grants for repairs and replacement costs.
- 30 Public Assistance project specialists are in the field, assessing damages to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, and to public buildings. Under the public assistance program, state agencies, local and tribal governments, and certain private nonprofits could be eligible for 75 percent of disaster-related expenses. The state will pay the remaining 25 percent.
- 384 requests for Public Assistance are being processed by FEMA workers, for more than 1,000 individual projects.
- More than 275 people have visited the mobile Disaster Recovery Center when it made two-day stops in Warner (June 4-5), Groton (June 6-7), Claremont (June 8-9) and Langford (June 11-12), and Britton (June 14-15).
- The one fixed DRC is in Aberdeen, at the Washington Street Gym, 401 N. Washington St. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, until further notice.
- The SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Yankton will close at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 21. DLOCs will continue to operate in Huron, Mitchell, and Redfield. The centers provide one-on-one assistance for storm-impacted South Dakotans who have questions about SBA disaster assistance or need help completing an SBA disaster loan application. Information on days and hours of operation is available at the SBA Disaster Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955.
- Deadline for Disaster Unemployment Assistance is June 25 for those who live or work in Beadle, Brown, Clark, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Miner, Sanborn, Spink and Yankton, and July 2 for those who live and work in Marshall County. It is important to remember that this assistance is available to persons not ordinarily eligible for regular unemployment insurance. Individuals can apply by calling the South Dakota Department of Labor at 605-626-3179.
- To register or check on an application for Individual Assistance, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing- or speech-impaired. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. To get information about state assistance, call the State Disaster Hotline at 1-866-737-8998 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, until further notice.
Eleven South Dakota counties have been declared eligible for Individual Assistance: Beadle, Brown, Clark, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Marshall, Miner, Sanborn, Spink and Yankton.
Twenty-two counties have been declared eligible for Public Assistance: Aurora, Beadle, Bon Homme, Brown, Brule, Buffalo, Clark, Day, Hanson, Hutchinson, Jackson, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Marshall, McCook, Miner, Roberts, Sanborn, Spink, Tripp, and Yankton. In addition, those portions of the Pine Ridge and Crow Creek Reservations and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate that lie within designated counties are also eligible for Public Assistance.
FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Monday, 18-Jun-2007 10:16:00