Gov. Rounds Requests Presidential Disaster Declaration
Gov. Rounds Requests Presidential Disaster Declaration
Gov. Mike Rounds today requested a presidential disaster declaration for the snow storm that hit the northwest part of South Dakota in April.
"This letter of request to President Bush is part of the process for receiving federal disaster funds," said Gov. Rounds. "If the President accepts the declaration, up to 75-percent of the estimated damage in the counties included in the declaration could be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The rural electric cooperatives would also be reimbursed. Furthermore, in the letter to the President, the state has committed to funding 10-percent of the applicants' costs of this disaster."
The preliminary damage report done by the South Dakota Office of Emergency Management, FEMA, and local officials shows $3.9-million in damage to public infrastructure in Bennett, Butte, Harding, Jackson, Meade and Perkins counties. Most of that damage was done to power lines.
There is no timeline as to when the White House will either accept or deny the declaration request.
Though Custer, Fall River, Lawrence and PenningtonCounties were impacted by the storm, none sustained enough damage to qualify for federal assistance.
At the height of the April storm, 15,200 customers were without power. The state activated its emergency operations center for five days to help with the relief and recovery effort. Dozens of generators, more than 140 plows, and two helicopters are among the resources the state deployed during and after the storm.
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Executive Order follows:
State of South Dakota
Office of the Governor
Executive Order 2006-07
WHEREAS, On April 18, 2006, the state of South Dakota was impacted by a winter storm, which brought blizzard conditions, high winds and substantial snow; and,
WHEREAS, The storm caused extensive damage to utility infrastructure systems; and,
WHEREAS, The damages interrupted the normal flow of emergency, school, mail and farm traffic; and,
WHEREAS, The storm also caused major damage to the rural electrical systems in Western South Dakota, which resulted in power outages for many customers lasting more than 48 hours; and,
WHEREAS, The South Dakota National Guard was placed on State Active Duty to provide personnel and resources to support the response and recovery efforts; and,
WHEREAS, The conditions resulted in extensive damage to public, private and agricultural property, which created considerable financial and personal hardship to local governments, businesses and residents:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, M. MICHAEL ROUNDS, Governor of the State of South Dakota, under provisions of SDCL 33-15, otherwise known as the Emergency Management law, do hereby declare a state of emergency existed in the counties of Bennett, Butte, Harding, Jackson, Meade, and Perkins.
IT IS FURTHER DECLARED, Resources available to state government were utilized under coordination of the Department of Public Safety, Office of Emergency Management, to support county government and public utilities' efforts to restore essential facilities and services.
Dated in Pierre, South Dakota, this 12th day of May, 2006.
______________________________
M. Michael Rounds, Governor
Attest:
______________________________
Chris Nelson, Secretary of State
http://www.state.sd.us/governor/