Disaster Assistance for Pine Ridge Reservation Reaches One Million Dollars 

First Families Move into Manufactured Houses

Release Date: July 29, 1999
Release Number: 1280-20

» More Information on South Dakota Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- Six weeks after President Clinton declared Shannon County and the Pine Ridge Reservation a federal disaster area, more than one million dollars has been issued to residents affected by the tornadoes, severe storms, and flooding that occurred from June 4 through June 18.

"The one million dollar plus figure includes assistance for disaster housing, business and home repair loans and crisis counseling services," said Pete Bakersky, Federal Coordinating Officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

More than $343,000 has been approved for immediate home repair assistance and $70,000 has been approved for rental assistance. FEMA's Disaster Housing program provides funding for essential repairs required to make the home livable or for eligible applicants to rent accommodations.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $390,600 in low-interest loans for home and business owners.

FEMA has funded a crisis counseling grant of $193,885 to provide counseling and other support services to individuals affected by the early June severe storms and tornadoes. The federal grant reinforces existing disaster crisis counseling and outreach services being provided by the State Division of Mental Health.

In addition to disaster grants and loans, five Pine Ridge Reservation families have moved into manufactured homes that have been placed onto private properties.

Jean Belt and her family moved into a three-bedroom manufactured home July 23 from their temporary living quarters, a travel trailer also provided by FEMA. The manufactured homes, unlike the travel trailers, are winterized and are setup for long-term housing situations. Eligible applicants have up to 18 months to reside in disaster housing accommodations.

All manufactured homes, purchased by FEMA from a Rapid City dealership, are fully furnished and are equipped with central air conditioning.

"From the beginning, our priority has been to get people back into habitable housing," Bakersky said. "We can't take people back to what they had before the disaster, but we can make their lives more comfortable."

FEMA has received a request for 30 manufactured homes to be placed on private properties throughout the reservation. A mobile home park, currently under construction, is scheduled to hold an additional 54 units.

"The urgent need for housing has been addressed," Bakersky said. "Everyone who has registered and is eligible for disaster assistance is either in a travel trailer or renting their accommodations through FEMA grants."

With the housing of displaced residents, the Disaster Recovery Center inside the school gym will close Friday, July 30 at 6 p.m. Applicants, however, may still speak to an SBA representative at the Pine Ridge High school until August 9. Residents may also drop off their SBA application or mail it in after August 9.

Bakersky stressed that although FEMA is downsizing its relief operations, they will be working on this disaster for many months to come. "We have representatives from federal, state, the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Indian Health Services, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and volunteer agencies continuing their partnership to help with the recovery process. It takes time for people to get back on their feet after they lose everything and FEMA services will be here as long as necessary."

Shannon County and Pine Ridge Reservation residents and business owners who suffered storm damages from June 4-18 storms have until Monday, August 9, 1999 to register for federal and state disaster assistance.

State and federal officials urge anyone affected by the severe storms to register before the August 9 deadline by visiting the Pine Ridge Disaster Recovery Center, through July 30, or by calling FEMA's toll-free registration number, 1-800-462-9029 or TTY: 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired. Applicants can register from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Last Modified: Monday, 15-Dec-2003 16:51:01