South Dakota(Press Release)-  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Thursday that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of South Dakota to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding that occurred from June 16 to July 8, 2024.

President Biden’s major disaster declaration unlocks critical financial resources to assist individuals and communities in South Dakota recover from the damaging effects of the summer storms.

Residents in Davison, Lincoln, Turner, and Union counties who sustained losses from the severe weather events are now eligible to apply for federal assistance. This assistance can include:

• Grants for temporary housing and home repairs: FEMA may provide financial assistance to help eligible homeowners and renters with necessary repairs to their primary residences to make them safe, habitable, and functional. This may also include assistance finding temporary housing if their homes are uninhabitable.
• Low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can provide low-interest disaster loans to help individuals and businesses pay for uninsured losses not covered by insurance. These loans can be used to repair or replace real estate, household contents, vehicles, and specific business expenses.
• Other Needs Assistance: FEMA may offer other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the disaster, such as assistance with medical and dental expenses, funeral costs, and other serious needs caused by the disaster.

Federal funding is also available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private non-profit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and repairing or replacing facilities damaged by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding. This includes infrastructure in Aurora, Bennett, Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Clay, Davison, Douglas, Gregory, Hand, Hanson, Hutchinson, Jackson, Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Sanborn, Tripp, Turner, Union, and Yankton counties.

The federal government will also provide funding on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures across the state. These measures can help to reduce the risk of damage from future disasters.

Edwin J. Martin has been named Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas. Mr. Martin will work with the State of South Dakota to establish a Disaster Recovery Center and coordinate the delivery of federal assistance. Additional designations may be made later if warranted by the results of ongoing damage assessments.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362, or by using the FEMA App. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service, or others, give FEMA the number for that service.

For more information about FEMA’s disaster assistance programs, please visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call the toll-free helpline at 1-800-621-3362. Information is also available in ASL at 1-800-462-7585.

FEMA collaborates closely with the State of South Dakota and local governments to assist disaster survivors. This declaration comes at the request of Governor Kristi Noem. The state will continue to provide ongoing support to affected communities.