FEMA aid tops $14.7 million as South Dakota recovers from summer floods
Oct. 18—MITCHELL — As the dust settles from the summer floods that wreaked havoc across southeastern South Dakota, disaster recovery centers have closed and the application deadline has passed.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Administration, the total amount of federal aid doled out to South Dakota residents and businesses has soared past $14.7 million.
FEMA has been at the forefront of this financial assistance, approving $8.6 million through its individuals and households program. This amount includes $5.8 million for housing assistance, covering home repairs and rental expenses, and $2.8 million for other needs such as personal property replacement and moving expenses.
The flooding, which primarily struck the region from late June through early July, affected 25 counties and prompted President Biden to issue a major disaster declaration in August, unlocking crucial FEMA resources for the region.
Following the floods, FEMA set up Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in four South Dakota counties: Davison, Lincoln, Turner, and Union. These counties qualified for individual assistance, enabling residents and business owners to access federal aid. The DRCs provided on-site support for those affected by the disaster
The Davison County DRC, located at the Davison County Fairgrounds in Mitchell, was the last to close, shutting its doors permanently on Sept. 28.
According to Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson, FEMA's impact extended beyond the recovery centers. He noted that FEMA workers visited over 1,000 residences, knocking on doors and engaging with residents to ensure they received necessary assistance.
"The fact that our community got such a huge amount of help in our community will have a tremendous positive impact," Hanson said. "We are fortunate we had such great FEMA workers sit at Menards, the 4-H grounds and also go door-to-door to help our people."
It was the second time in five years that Mitchell hosted a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center, last in Mitchell in 2019 to offer support to individuals and businesses impacted by severe storms and flooding that occurred from Sept. 9-26 of that year.
The scope of this year's disaster response is evident in the number of applicants. To date, 1,407 individuals from these four counties have applied for assistance through FEMA. During the operation of disaster recovery centers in North Sioux City, Canton, Mitchell, and Viborg, 1,131 South Dakotans visited to gather information and support.
According to Tony Mayne, spokesperson with FEMA Region 8, which includes South Dakota, Davison County alone had 470 residents register for assistance, leading to $2,075,962 being distributed to the area.
In addition to FEMA's efforts, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $5.9 million in low-interest disaster loans aimed at homeowners, renters, and businesses trying to recover from the flooding's impact.
FEMA's Public Assistance Program has also been an integral part of the recovery efforts, providing grants to state and local governments, as well as certain nonprofit organizations, for infrastructure rebuilding, debris removal, and emergency protective measures. As of October 15, six projects have been funded, with FEMA contributing nearly $243,000 in federal cost-share assistance.
So far, 224 jurisdictions have applied for this aid, and FEMA has conducted initial meetings with 168 applicants to discuss project reimbursement. This program is focused on facilitating the restoration of essential infrastructure impacted by the disaster.
In addition to FEMA's aid, the National Flood Insurance Program has issued over $4.8 million in claims to 55 policyholders across South Dakota. Those interested in flood insurance can find more information at floodsmart.gov .
The flooding's intensity was unprecedented. According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, Mitchell received 7.9 inches of rainfall from June 20 to June 22, with some residents reporting up to 10 inches in their rain gauges. The first day of the storm saw a record-breaking 4.87 inches of rain, setting a single-day rainfall record for the city.
