Disaster Aid for South Dakota June Storms Tops $3.4M

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — State and federal emergency officials say more than $3.4 million in disaster aid has been approved to help communities in 12 South Dakota counties and three tribal nations recover from a series of June storms.

South Dakota Office of Emergency Management Director Tina Titze says 26 applicants including the city of Pierre, West Central Electric Cooperative and the Crow Creek, Lower Brule and Oglala Sioux tribal governments are receiving reimbursements for disaster costs and debris cleanup.

In July, President Barack Obama issued a major disaster declaration for the state, making 10 counties and the three tribal nations eligible for federal disaster aid.

Federal Coordinating Officer Gary Stanley says FEMA reimburses applicants for not less than 75 percent of eligible recovery costs, and the state contributes an additional 10 percent cost-share.

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