A June 24, 2024, view of flood damage that occurred the previous night at McCook Lake in southeastern South Dakota. (Courtesy of Dirk Lohry)
By: Joshua Haiar
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) – Federal aid is on the way to help people recover from damages caused by late June’s historic flooding in southeastern South Dakota.
Governor Kristi Noem announced Thursday night that President Joe Biden approved her disaster declaration request, which she submitted on July 26.
The declaration comes after what the Governor’s Office calls a 1,000-year flooding event that impacted 25 counties. Federal funding will be available to state, tribal and local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations, on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and repair and replacement of damaged infrastructure. The cost share is 75% federal, 15% state and 10% local.
Residents and business owners in Davison, Lincoln, Turner and Union counties qualified for individual assistance and are advised to contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency to apply. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Noem said in a statement she is proud of South Dakota’s resilience.
“This event was unprecedented, but our response was exactly what South Dakota always does,” Noem said. “We work together to get our neighbors back on their feet.”
Some residents, particularly in McCook Lake, have struggled in the aftermath. It has been about eight weeks since a June 23 flood severely damaged or destroyed about 40 homes there.
Morgan Speichinger’s McCook Lake home was destroyed. Her family is looking forward to working with FEMA to get questions answered.
“It’s still a long road ahead of us, but this was a major step forward,” she said. “Especially since we have been stagnant for so long.”
Many affected McCook Lake residents have relied on temporary accommodations, such as staying in hotels or with friends and relatives, while awaiting assistance.
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