South Dakota Under State of Emergency as Storm Rages

(TNS) – Responding to blizzard conditions and life-threatening temperatures across much of the state, Gov. Kristi Noem declared an emergency for the winter storms that have been impacting South Dakota .

“My administration has been assisting county and tribal governments in the local response to the ongoing winter storms across the state,” Noem announced. “Under the direction of the Office of Emergency Management , we will continue to help all of South Dakota’s communities get through these storms, together.”

Gov. Noem also activated the South Dakota National Guard. For now, the Guard’s mission will be limited to hauling available firewood from the Black Hills Forest Service to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, where nearly two weeks of extreme weather has left resources and emergency services stretched thin.

According to a press release from the governor’s office, other tasks for the state National Guard may be necessary as coordination continues between tribal, local and state actors.

Though no end date to the state of emergency was included in the executive order, the scope of the state’s duties is “to restore normal travel conditions and emergency services” for county and tribal governments.

The South Dakota National Guard was did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

___

©2022 The Daily Republic (Mitchell, S.D.)
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.