Presidential disaster declaration approved for South Dakota following May 12 tornadoes, derecho
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A presidential disaster declaration has been approved for South Dakota following a May 12 derecho that included 16 tornadoes in the eastern part of the state.
The designation will make assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency available to help cover damage or losses in 20 South Dakota counties and two reservations, according to a news release from Gov. Kristi Noem.
The money is for public infrastructure damage caused by the storms. Damage to private property is covered by insurance.
The National Weather Service confirmed 16 tornadoes in eastern South Dakota, but straight-line winds also caused substantial damage.
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Castlewood was especially hard hit with dozens of buildings damaged, including the school. An EF2 tornado with winds of about 120 mph knocked down walls and ripped off part of the school's roof.
“This is good news for those in our state who were impacted by this severe weather,” Noem said in the release. “I appreciate FEMA giving us a response. This means FEMA can start providing assistance in a timely manner.”
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FEMA funding will be available to help with repairs and recovery in Aurora, Beadle, Bon Homme, Brookings, Clay, Codington, Day, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Hanson, Hutchinson, Kingsbury, Lake, McCook, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Roberts and Turner counties. The Flandreau Indian Reservation and the Lake Traverse Reservation in the northeastern corner of the state can also tap federal assistance as a result of the declaration.
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Noem wrote a letter to President Joe Biden earlier this month requesting a presidential disaster declaration. In it, she noted the storms resulted in two deaths, winds of more than 100 mph, the temporary closure of roads and highways and that nearly 70,000 utility customers lost power.
Soon, FEMA staff will visit South Dakota to begin assistance efforts, according to the release. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Emergency Management will be the state agency assigned to help coordinate the assistance.
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South Dakota still has six open presidential disaster declaration requests for other events and is working with FEMA on those, per the release.
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Disaster declaration for tornadoes, derecho approved for South Dakota