Rounds, Thune and Johnson Urge Biden to Grant Disaster Declaration Following June Storms

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) sent a letter to President Biden in support of Governor Kristi Noem’s (R-S.D.) request for a major disaster declaration in western and central South Dakota following a series of severe storms that began on June 11, 2022. The delegation has strongly supported previous disaster declaration requests, including the one that was granted on June 29, 2022, which came as a result of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that devastated communities across eastern South Dakota on May 12, 2022.

“Unfortunately, South Dakota was in the midst of recovering from multiple natural disasters when these storms occurred, and, since then, has been battered by more devastating storms,” the delegation wrote. “The resilience and resourcefulness of South Dakotans in recent months has been extraordinary, however, as losses mount, the people of our great state hope the federal government will join in their restoration efforts.”

Full letter HERE or below:

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The Honorable Joseph Biden

President of the United States

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Biden,

We write to you in support of Governor Kristi Noem’s request for a major disaster declaration covering the South Dakota counties of Butte, Haakon, Jackson, Jones, McPherson, and Spink. This declaration would greatly assist in recovery efforts from significant weather events occurring June 11, 2022, through June 14, 2022.

Much of the western and central South Dakota plains experienced extreme weather during the specified timeframe that involved severe thunderstorms with golf ball to grapefruit size hail and wind gusts of 80 to 95 miles per hour. The last of these storms produced winds over 120 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. These winds caused extensive damage to homes and businesses, agriculture, and public infrastructure, such as rural electrical cooperative power lines and telephone poles. More than 6,000 residents experienced power outages, many of whom were left without power for several days.

Unfortunately, South Dakota was in the midst of recovering from multiple natural disasters when these storms occurred, and, since then, has been battered by more devastating storms. The resilience and resourcefulness of South Dakotans in recent months has been extraordinary, however, as losses mount, the people of our great state hope the federal government will join in their restoration efforts.

In light of these considerations, we urge you to approve Governor Noem’s request as soon as possible so that the necessary federal resources are available to assist relevant areas of our state. Please do not hesitate to contact any of our offices with any questions. We thank you for the support you have already offered, and respectfully ask for your continued attention and assistance in providing the resources necessary to ensure the safety of South Dakotans.

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