On Tuesday, April 9, Sanborn County’s Commissioners signed a disaster declaration. The declaration states that Sanborn County has been declared a disaster area due to springtime flooding. The declaration has been submitted to the state, so if a presidential declaration is made that South Dakota is in a disastrous state, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will assist those who need help paying for damage to their property, including townships to help repair road damage. 

In order to receive aid from FEMA there has to be a certain amount accumulated in damages. The damages must be in public infrastructure, such as roads, ditches, culverts and lift stations. According to Jason Coenen, Sanborn County’s Emergency Management Officer, if anyone would like to include damages to the list in the Sanborn County Sheriff’s Office, they need to document the damages with photos. If they have repairs done, they need to keep receipts and costs of the repairs to be turned into FEMA. 

If anyone has any questions, they should contact Officer Coenen at the Sanborn County Sheriff’s Office at 605-796-4511.