President Biden approves presidential disaster declaration for South Dakota

WASHINGTON (KCAU) — Nearly two months since severe flooding hit southeast South Dakota, the state has officially been put under a presidential disaster declaration.

The White House announced Thursday that President Biden has approved a disaster declaration for South Dakota following “severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding from June 16 to July 8, 2024.”

The declaration will allow federal funding from FEMA to assist individuals affected in Davison, Lincoln, Turner, and Union Counties. Funding will also be available for state, tribal, and local governments, as well as some nonprofits, in a total of 25 counties, including Clay and Yankton Counties.

Gov. Kristi Noem originally requested a presidential disaster declaration on July 26.

“South Dakota has worked tremendously hard to get to this point and will continue working to rebuild our communities,” Noem said in a statement Thursday. “I am so proud of our people. This event was unprecedented, but our response was exactly what South Dakota always does. We work together to get our neighbors back on their feet.”

Residents in the four counties approved for individual assistance must contact FEMA to register. Residents can go online to disasterassistance.gov , call 800-621-3362 or use the FEMA mobile app to apply.

More information about Disaster Recovery Centers will be announced “very soon,” the governor’s office says.

Biden approved a presidential disaster declaration for the state of Iowa back on June 24.

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