South Dakota asks for disaster declaration for May 12 storms

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Friday requested a presidential catastrophe declaration as the results of harm from a Might 12 storm system that included tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding.

The request is supposed to pave the best way for federal funding to assist with restoration, though it’s not assured. Noem is asking the Federal Emergency Administration Company to assist pay for repairs to public infrastructure.

The storms resulted in two deaths. There have been 14 reported tornadoes and and wind gusts of greater than 100 mph in some locations.

“Widespread harm, together with downed energy strains, overturned semi-trucks, car crashes, uprooted or snapped bushes, and destroyed visitors management indicators, was reported,” Noem wrote within the six-page letter to President Joe Biden.

A preliminary evaluation signifies greater than $6.7 million in harm was achieved to public infrastructure in 20 counties and on two reservations. Practically 70,000 clients skilled energy outages.

The state is searching for harm help within the counties of Aurora, Beadle, Bon Homme, Brookings, Clay, Codington, Day, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Hanson, Hutchinson, Kingsbury, Lake, McCook, Minor, Minnehaha, Moody, Roberts, and Turner, in addition to the Flandreau Indian and Lake Traverse Reservations.

“The affect of this occasion shall be felt in these communities nicely into the long run,” Noem stated.

South Dakota at present has six open presidential catastrophe declarations for different occasions.