Governor Seeks Disaster Declaration for Flood Damage

Press Release

Gov Mike Rounds has requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration to help South Dakota recover from widespread spring flooding.

The request is for public assistance in 30 counties where preliminary assessments show flooding caused damages estimated at more than $8.1 million to roads, culverts, bridges and other public infrastructure.

In a letter to President Barack Obama, Gov. Rounds said an unusually wet fall in 2009, followed by several severe winter storms, set the stage for an extremely wet spring. Heavy runoff, flooding and ponding water have caused significant damage to state and local infrastructure, the Governor said.

South Dakota currently has received two Presidential Disaster Declarations to help in recovering from a Christmas blizzard and a late-January ice storm.

"It is difficult for the state to recover from yet another disaster,'' Gov. Rounds added. "State, county and municipal budgets are very tight in the current economic climate. The costs associated with this disaster will only make budget problems worse if federal assistance is not provided.''

The request is a necessary step for federal disaster funds to be made available to South Dakota. If the President grants the declaration, up to 75 percent of eligible costs could be reimbursed by the federal government. The Governor's request does not guarantee federal funding will be made available to South Dakota.

Counties included in the request are: Aurora, Beadle, Brown, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Clark, Clay, Codington, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Grant, Hamlin, Hanson, Hutchinson, Hyde, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lyman, Marshall, McCook, McPherson, Miner, Roberts, Sanborn, Spink, Sully, Turner and Union.

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